Die Leichenschau -

The (post-mortem examination) is the formal medical examination of a deceased person to confirm death, determine the cause and manner of death, and establish the time of death. It is a legal requirement in Germany and a critical step before a death certificate can be issued or a funeral can take place. 1. Purpose and Legal Framework

Doctors must distinguish between natural death (from internal illness) and non-natural/unclear death (accident, suicide, or crime). Die Leichenschau

The examination serves several vital functions beyond simply confirming a person has passed: Purpose and Legal Framework Doctors must distinguish between

Next of kin are responsible for notifying a doctor immediately. Often, this is the deceased's general practitioner (GP) or an emergency physician. The responsibility falls strictly on physicians, though the

The responsibility falls strictly on physicians, though the specific type of doctor often depends on where the death occurred: