Postmortems are not typically conducted at night primarily due to inadequate lighting. Insufficient artificial light can significantly hinder the accurate assessment of crucial details.
Challenges of Nighttime Autopsies
- Color Perception: Artificial lighting can distort the true colors of injuries and post-mortem hypostasis (blood settling), making it difficult to determine the nature and timing of injuries. As noted in one source, "insufficient artificial light may hamper the ability to recognise the colour changes of injuries, of post-mortem hypostasis and many other issues" [3].04-Feb-2023. Another source points out that artificial light can make injuries appear purple instead of red.
- Detail Observation: The fine details needed for a thorough examination, such as subtle wounds or internal organ damage, may be harder to discern in low light.
- Overall Accuracy: The overall accuracy and reliability of the autopsy findings can be compromised without sufficient illumination.
Exceptions and Considerations
While nighttime autopsies are generally discouraged, exceptions exist. Hospitals with adequate infrastructure capable of providing sufficient lighting may conduct postmortems after sunset. However, sources suggest that urgent cases such as homicides, suicides, rapes, cases involving decomposed bodies, or those with suspected foul play should ideally not be performed at night. This is due to the importance of accurate findings in these scenarios.
