The pathology laboratory is a mysterious, perhaps even gruesome, place in the minds of many of us. Yet it is here that much of what we know about human disease first came to light. Important studies defining cause of death rely on postmortem examinations initiated during the autopsy. Many of us will be faced at some time with making a decision about autopsy of a deceased loved one. In this book, Richard Prayson, M.D., head of the Cleveland Clinic’s Section of Pathology and Neuropathology, describes and demystifies the autopsy process in terms we can all understand. He and his colleagues discuss the necessity for autopsy and misconceptions about it. This is an important book, pitched at an understandable level, that should be read by everyone. Throughout history, autopsies have been used to advance knowledge about human life and death. Autopsies can be extremely instructive in understanding new illnesses and helping explain why and how a person died. For anyone dealing with issues surrounding autopsy, this Cleveland Clinic Guide can be an invaluable resource. • Autopsy 101 • Solving medical mysteries • History of the autopsy • How is an autopsy carried out? • Forensic pathology • Who consents to an autopsy? • Living wills • Religious perspectives on autopsy • Ethical concerns