Consult Autopsy

Although the medical investigator gets involved in more than half of all of the deaths that occur in the State of New Mexico, not all deaths that fall under OMI jurisdiction get autopsied. In some cases, a full autopsy is required to determine cause and manner of death, or to document cause and manner of death, especially when a crime has been committed or suspected.

In most cases, however, the medical investigator will conduct an investigation along with law enforcement and determine that there are no circumstances surrounding the death which make it sudden, unexpected, suspicious, or unnatural. If there is sufficient information to preclude the necessity of an autopsy, and the decedent has a primary care physician willing to sign the death certificate based on OMI's investigation and the decedent's past medical history, the medical investigator will terminate jurisdiction to that physician.

In cases such as these, the family has the option of choosing to have an autopsy performed by the medical examiner as a consult autopsy. The cost of a full autopsy, partial autopsy, or the cost of organ removal for the purpose of research/study is determined by the OMI board - please contact our office (505-272-3053) for current costs. The cost of the examination does not include the cost of transporting the remains to Albuquerque for the examination and, in some rare cases, storage costs while family decide where they want the remains sent after the exam.

Although a representative of the OMI will not approach the family with this option, the citizens of the State of New Mexico should be aware that this service is available. Information about the consult autopsy can be requested at any time by calling 505-272-3053 and asking to speak to a deputy medical investigator. Although the OMI is willing to do consult autopsies, the decision to accept a case will ultimately rest with the on-call pathologist and may be declined, especially when OMI is experiencing a large number of jurisdictional examinations. The family may then be referred to a private pathologist or to a local hospital for such service.

Hospitals may conduct autopsies on non-medical examiner cases using their own pathology staff after written permission has been received from the next of kin. The cost for such services should be discussed with the primary care physician or hospital staff.

Private pathologists may also conduct such autopsies after receiving permission from the appropriate next of kin. The private pathologist will discuss fees directly with family or their representative.