Private autopsies in Florida and New York, performed by a dual-board certified forensic pathologist and extensively experienced autopsy technician. Our staff will assist you to determine the extent of autopsy (full, partial, etc) required for your specific case.

Components

• External examination

• Complete or partial internal examination

• Specimen sampling for histology and toxicology

• Ancillary studies:

  • Microbiology

  • Genetic testing

Deliverables

• Formal medicolegal autopsy report

• Cause and manner of death determination

• Photographic documentation (secured and cataloged)

• Evidence preservation and chain-of-custody documentation

Uses

• Families seeking independent verification or second opinion

• Disputed or unclear cause of death

• Medical malpractice concerns

• Religious or cultural preferences for private handling

We provide locum tenens coverage to support medical examiner and coroner offices facing staffing gaps, surge capacity demands or transitional periods.

• Our board-certified forensic pathologist is available for medical examiner assignments in Florida and New York, bringing expertise in complex casework, including aquatic fatalities, and fellow/trainee education.

• Andrew, an experienced autopsy technician and ABMDI fellow board-certified death investigator, is available for nationwide locum tenens assignments. His expertise extends beyond autopsy support to include administration and office management, mass fatality response, pediatric and aquatic death investigations, and the training and supervision of autopsy technicians and death investigators. He is also experienced in report review and quality assurance, contributing to consistent, high-standard documentation and casework.

Expert case review without performing a physical examination.

Includes

• Review of:

  • Prior autopsy reports

  • Medical records

  • Scene investigation reports

  • Imaging and diagnostic studies

• Independent cause and manner of death opinion

• Identification of inconsistencies or missed findings

Deliverables

• Written forensic consultation report

• Optional verbal consultation with family or attorney

Uses

• Legal cases

• Insurance disputes

• Appeals of official determinations

Independent reconstruction and analysis of circumstances surrounding death - bridges the gap between forensic pathology and medicolegal investigative analysis.

Components

• Scene review (in-person or via documentation)

• Injury interpretation and correlation

• Timeline reconstruction

• Integration of:

  • Autopsy findings

  • Witness statements

  • Environmental factors

Deliverables

• Scene investigation report

• Forensic opinion on mechanism and manner of death

Formal re-evaluation of previously investigated deaths.

Includes

• Second autopsies or re-interpretation of previously conducted autopsy

• Histology slide review

• Toxicology reassessment

• Identification of diagnostic errors or omissions

Deliverables

• Defensible second-opinion report

• Expert witness services if needed

Recovery of organs and tissues for diagnostic and research purposes.

Applications

• Research (academic or private)

• Diagnostic clarification

• Family-directed donation (non-transplant)

Operational Requirements

• Strict next-of-kin authorization

• Compliance with Uniform Anatomical Gift Act and state-specific statutes (FL, NJ, NY, PA)

Components

• Organ and/or tissue procurement

• Tissue sampling

• Proper preservation

• Chain-of-custody and tracking

Deliverables

• Recovery and/or pathology report

• Specimen documentation

• Coordination with courier(s) and receiving institution(s)

Litigation support and expert analysis.

Services

• Medical record interpretation

• Pain and suffering assessment

• Deposition and trial testimony

• Report writing compliant with legal standards

Deliverables

• Expert reports

• Affidavits

• Courtroom testimony

Partial autopsy and/or postmortem organ and tissue sampling for diagnosis of occupational exposure-related disease.

Deliverables

• Pathology and/or autopsy report(s)

• Specimen sampling and histology (microscopic slides) analysis for definitive diagnosis of occupational or environmental-exposure related diseases

Uses

• Families with questions regarding whether job- or environmental-related exposure contributed to death of a loved one

• Attorneys or law firms for litigation purposes

Examination of the brain and/or spinal cord for neurodegeneration or trauma affecting the nervous system

Deliverables

• Partial or full autopsy with emphasis on brain and/or spinal cord

• Autopsy report

• Sampling of brain and/or spinal cord for histology

• Examination of microscopic slides by board-certified forensic neuropathologist for diagnosis or exclusion of neurological conditions

• Re-examination of a brain or spinal cord previously autopsied or record review

Uses

• Families with questions regarding whether a loved one had a condition such as dementia (including Alzheimer’s), chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), Parkinson’s disease or other condition affecting the brain or spinal cord

• Families who question the cause and manner of death determination made by an initial autopsy

• Attorneys or law firms for litigation purposes

Blood or specimen retrieval for toxicological analysis in cases where a drug overdose or poisoning is suspected

Deliverables

• Full toxicology report

• Interpretation of postmortem toxicology

• Determination of whether a toxic agent contributed to the death

Uses

• Families with questions regarding whether a loved one died due to a drug or poison

Full investigation of deaths occurring in or related to aquatic environments

Deliverables

• Death scene investigation if applicable

• Recovery of submerged evidence, including human remains

• Scuba or other dive-related equipment assessment

• Dive computer interrogation

• Gas analysis of scuba tanks

• Autopsy or second autopsy

• Death investigation and/or autopsy report

Uses

• Families with questions regarding specific cause of death in cases that have been ruled “drownings”

• Families with suspicion of foul play in deaths occurring in or around water

• Families who suspect an equipment malfunction, dive shop error or dive boat negligence contributing to a death that occurred while scuba diving