**1. Introduction**

At present, specialised foetal/child autopsy is more in demand as parents want need to be informed about the cause of death of their child and its effect on future pregnancies. The post mortem examination helps in planning better treatment and caution for the future. The normal anatomy of the adult and child are similar, differences do exist in foetal/neonate anatomy of the cardio-vascular system making the prenatal/paediatric autopsy significantly different from the adult one. The presence of congenital anomalies found in perinatal and foetal autopsies is another confounding factor making meticulous examination during autopsy necessary for getting information to educate families concerning future pregnancies [1]. An autopsy is not required in every case; though debates about the cause of death do necessitate an autopsy to be performed. Normally, a deceased's body is the property of the relatives. However, in deaths that are unusual, unnatural or suspicious in nature the state has an overriding interest which supersedes the interests of the family; such circumstances fall into the category of medico-legal cases. A death case with an obvious cause and manner of death may require an autopsy for legal purposes. The usual classifications of death are: natural, accident, suicide, homicide or undetermined. A forensic autopsy is normally requested by the police, the coroner or in the Latin countries by that quaint institution 'the Investigating Judge' [2]. The age at which a foetus becomes legally viable is defined either by the gestational age or by the body weight, and varies from nation to nation. A foetus exhibiting one or more of the described signs of life are technically considered viable, however foetuses below intrauterine age of 180 days have negligible to no chance of survival. Post mortem examinations are carried out on all foetuses, though the inferences drawn from them are legally applicable only to viable foetuses. Most of the foetal and neonatal autopsies are hospital admitted cases. However, infant post mortems may be medico-legal cases if the cause of death is not known.

### **2. Rules for autopsy**

(1) Conducted in mortuary only, except spot post mortem. (2) Requisition from police or Magistrate necessary. (3) Avoid delay. (4) Collect information

from inquest, accident register, case sheet, etc. (5) Conducted in day-light as far as possible, because colour changes, such as jaundice, P.M. hypostasis and colour of contusions cannot be made out in artificial light. (6) Body should be identified by the police officials. (7) No unauthorised person should be present. (8) Assistant should note findings. (9) Autopsy must be complete and never partial [3].
