Autopsy

An Autopsy, also called a Post-Mortem Examination, is a procedure in which a deceased organism undergoes a through examination to determine how, when, and why the organism died, as well as to determine if there are any pre-existing conditions which may have led to death.

While many cultures permit an autopsy to be performed, some cultures do not. When Doctor Beverly Crusher wanted to perform an autopsy on the woman who Ves Alkar claimed was his mother, Alkar cited cultural reasons for denying permission for an autopsy to be performed, however he may have been lying about there being a cultural prohibition against post-mortems being performed. Picard initally upheld this judgement, but when it became appararent that something was very wrong with Deanna Troi, Picard allowed the procedure to be done, exposing Alkar. (TNG episode Man of the People)

In the past, an autopsy would involve the physical dissection of a person, in which the organs would be removed and throughly examined. By the 24th century, non invasive methods were developed that removed the need for the more gruesome portions of an autopsy. (TNG: "Suspicions")