Autopsy in Pakistan: Conflict Between Customary Beliefs, Islamic Teachings, and Legal Necessity

Abstract

Post mortem is one of the most elusive methods in Pakistan’s medical and legal system. Performing a medical examination on a dead body is one of the keys to revealing the truth of the death and providing justice. The use of autopsy is also a disputed issue in Pakistan. The argument is that there is a difference between the law that requires the autopsy in the event of a death that is unnatural or unclear, Shariah law that says the human body should be respected but with exceptions of necessity, and social traditions where families do not always require an autopsy for cultural, emotional, and religious causes. This paper discusses the complex legal framework and post mortem practice in Pakistan. It looks at the laws that empower magistrates and police officers to authorize post mortems, the religious disagreement that justify their acceptance, and the social situation that make post mortems difficult to accept. It also highlights some practical issues such as poor forensic infrastructure, lack of trained pathologists, and lack of faith among the people in organizations. This paper will discuss both legal and cultural platforms, that compliance with procedures is only a meaningful part of reform, but that it needs to be made more culturally aware and also a need for a Shariah complaint platform that protects the events of the deceased and provides justice to the living as well.