FAQs • Westmoreland County, PA • CivicEngage

Does the Coroner need approval from the next of kin to order an autopsy?: No. Pennsylvania State Law authorizes the Coroner or his deputies to order autopsies to determine the cause of death.

Certain religious objections to an autopsy may be considered but will not necessarily prevent it from occurring.

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Coroner's Office - Autopsies

1. Why are autopsies performed?: Autopsies are performed for the purpose of determining the cause of death and advancing the investigation.

2. Who performs the autopsy?: Dr. Jennifer Hammers Pathology LLC perform all autopsies ordered by the Westmoreland County Coroner's Office.

3. If an autopsy is performed, will the decedent still be able to be viewed at the funeral home?: Whether or not a decedent will be viewable (open casket) depends on several factors.

The autopsy alone will not affect the ability to view the decedent.

The Funeral Director will make the final decision as to the viewable status.

Factors that may prohibit a decedent from being viewable include:
-Decomposition
-Severe Trauma
-Certain communicable diseases (rarely)

4. Will an autopsy delay the funeral?: No. Autopsies are generally performed within (24) hours of the date of death and the decedent is released to the funeral home immediately following the autopsy.

5. Does the Coroner need approval from the next of kin to order an autopsy?: No. Pennsylvania State Law authorizes the Coroner or his deputies to order autopsies to determine the cause of death.

Certain religious objections to an autopsy may be considered but will not necessarily prevent it from occurring.

6. The cause of death is listed as "Pending". When will we know the actual cause of death?: Often, when an autopsy is performed, the forensic pathologist will need additional information to render his final opinion. As a result, the actual cause of death is not initially listed on the death certificate.

The additional information required by the forensic pathologist routinely takes between (8) and (12) weeks, occasionally longer, for examination and processing and includes:
-Toxicology
-Microscopic Examination
-Culture Growth
-Forensic Entomology examinations (insects)
-Forensic Neuropathology examination
-Additional law enforcement investigation information

After the forensic pathologist receives all examination reports, the final opinion will be issued to the Westmoreland County Coroner's Office. A "final" death certificate will then be issued with the official cause and manner of death listed.