Autopsy or postmortem examination is a medical examination of a deceased body after death to find the cause of death. We perform autopsies free of charge on patients who passed away at UConn John Dempsey Hospital due to natural deaths (such as medical diseases). Autopsy service is provided in the Anatomic Pathology Division by eight board-certified pathologists and ASCP-certified pathologists’ assistants. Our team is highly trained in this field of expertise and collaborates with clinical providers to ensure accurate and timely diagnoses. Autopsy requests related to other manners of death (such as accident, homicide, suicide, accident) or medico-legal nature may be referred by law to the Office of the Chief Examiner.

Medical Director of Autopsy: Ga Hie Nam, M.D.

The autopsy service serves an important role in informing the patient's family and educating both the physician and the medical student.

Autopsies are performed Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on weekends at the discretion of the pathologist on call. The five full-time anatomic pathologists rotate on service under the direction of Dr. Poornima Hegde.

Full or limited autopsies are performed on perinatal, pediatric and adults who have been patients at UConn John Dempsey Hospital either at the time of death or during their life.

The department does not perform medico-legal autopsies which are referred by law to the Medical Examiner. Autopsies on UConn John Dempsey Hospital patients are performed without charge to the patient.