It seems like anyone who CTB's is mostly forced to have an autopsy in the USA.

[Captain Howdy]

Should someone be able to opt out of an autopsy, no matter what their death circumstances are?

 

[computer]

fuck yeah when i eventually ctb i dont wanna autopsy just throw my body away

 

[shiba]

It'd be nice, but the police need to rule out murder because there have been many murders framed as suicides. An actual murderer could take advantage of that system pretty easily.

I heard there's no autopsy if you jump into the sea.

 

[Captain Howdy]

I get the reasoning Shiba, but what if I don't care if I'm murdered? Like a DNR, I could sign a document saying I seriously don't care what the cause of death is, just cremate me.

 

[NellyGoes]

No. For murders I think it's useful. However for suicide I hope to avoid it by making it ultra ultra clear and informative for police. They won't wanna waste money and time on something that is clear as day.

@Captain Howdy unfortunately once you're dead your body basically belongs to the state. It's about the law (clearing that no crime was committed), not about your wishes (if there is any suspicion) anymore. :( I'm not saying that's fully right but I also think murders need to be uncovered.

 

[Captain Howdy]

That's fine, you can think what you like. But if we are going to pretend people have any sort of bodily autonomy, I think we need to examine this. I seriously don't care if I'm murdered, in fact, the criminal justice system in the USA is so bad, I do not want any piece of my body used to help catch the murderer.

 

[Forveleth]

I get the reasoning Shiba, but what if I don't care if I'm murdered? Like a DNR, I could sign a document saying I seriously don't care what the cause of death is, just cremate me.

You might not care if you get murdered, but you also might not be the only victim of that person. The police would need to investigate your murder to gather evidence to hopefully catch the person before they murdered someone else that wanted to be alive.

 

[Captain Howdy]

Ok, I also don't want my body used to help catch someone else's murderer. If they are fine with having their body autopsied to catch their murderer, great, go for it. I have nothing to do with your murder.

 

[Nexuuz123]

this sucks, dont want my body to be cut open

 

[Tord]

Sucks but sadly in place because laws, laws, laws..... I mean for a good reason, but still sucks.

 

[Dejected 55]

If you don't care about solving crimes... Consider that people on this forum know a lot more about the efficacy of various methods of suicide due to autopsies of people who killed themselves. Without that medical study data, it would be a lot harder for you to pick a method for your suicide because no one would ever know what was successful since the suicide victim can't tell you.

 

[Captain Howdy]

If you don't care about solving crimes... Consider that people on this forum know a lot more about the efficacy of various methods of suicide due to autopsies of people who killed themselves. Without that medical study data, it would be a lot harder for you to pick a method for your suicide because no one would ever know what was successful since the suicide victim can't tell you.

I don't think this is correct. So many people have died throughout history we know by now what can kill someone without an autopsy. I am also not saying no one should have an autopsy, I am saying you should be able to opt out if you want to.

 

[Dejected 55]

I don't think this is correct. So many people have died throughout history we know by now what can kill someone without an autopsy. I am also not saying no one should have an autopsy, I am saying you should be able to opt out if you want to.

That's what I said, though... "by now" is only possible because of all those autopsies past. Without those, we wouldn't have the knowledge we have today.

And with drugs being controlled substances or obsoleted all the time... and things like hanging becoming more difficult with house/apartment designs that don't hold full body weights like houses of old, and cars that don't generate enough CO... people are constantly trying new things, and if someone tries a new thing that works, you'd never know what they did exactly without an autopsy.

Obviously I'm not going to argue against the right to control your own body. At least on some TV shows there seem to be some religions that are against autopsy and unless it is a definite case of murder proven through other means, I've heard of families refusing autopsies on religious grounds. So, I think there is precedent.

 

[Forever Sleep]

How do they know for sure what the circumstances are without an autopsy? I imagine some murders are dressed up to look like suicide.

I guess things like leaving a note and, the method of death being fairly obvious helps but, if they make it a precident that people can start opting out of autopsies, I imagine criminals will twig.

What's to stop them faking a note, shooting the person at close range in the head and, placing the gun in their hand? Without an investigation- including an autopsy, the police may just take the 'evidence' on face value.

If course, if assisted suicide were legalised, regulated and provided in a clinic for more people, neither an investigation or autopsy would be needed.

 

[Captain Howdy]

How do they know for sure what the circumstances are without an autopsy? I imagine some murders are dressed up to look like suicide.

I guess things like leaving a note and, the method of death being fairly obvious helps but, if they make it a precident that people can start opting out of autopsies, I imagine criminals will twig.

What's to stop them faking a note, shooting the person at close range in the head and, placing the gun in their hand? Without an investigation- including an autopsy, the police may just take the 'evidence' on face value.

If course, if assisted suicide were legalised, regulated and provided in a clinic for more people, neither an investigation or autopsy would be needed.

Again, what if I don't care. I don't care if I CTB or get murdered. I have no desire to "catch" my murderer or to send them to a place inflicting severe human rights abuses. I don't want my body used for that, so why can't I opt out. You don't have to. If you think it's important, you can definitely choose not to opt out.

That's what I said, though... "by now" is only possible because of all those autopsies past. Without those, we wouldn't have the knowledge we have today.

And with drugs being controlled substances or obsoleted all the time... and things like hanging becoming more difficult with house/apartment designs that don't hold full body weights like houses of old, and cars that don't generate enough CO... people are constantly trying new things, and if someone tries a new thing that works, you'd never know what they did exactly without an autopsy.

Obviously I'm not going to argue against the right to control your own body. At least on some TV shows there seem to be some religions that are against autopsy and unless it is a definite case of murder proven through other means, I've heard of families refusing autopsies on religious grounds. So, I think there is precedent.

The thing is, they will override your religious objections, they do it all the time in the event of a suspicious death.

 

[Dejected 55]

I honestly can't understand why anyone cares what happens to their body after they die. It's not mine anymore. If it could help anyone in any way, have at it... I don't need it anymore.

 

[shiba]

I get the reasoning Shiba, but what if I don't care if I'm murdered? Like a DNR, I could sign a document saying I seriously don't care what the cause of death is, just cremate me.

I'm following you, but it's something the government will never let happen. At some point there would be an obvious murder that they're prevented from investigating. If they have family they could turn it into a large scandal. There's also the possibility that someone is essentially manipulated into signing it and then murdered. There's just too much potential for abuse for the government to take that chance.