Private Autopsy Florida:

FORENSIC PATHOLOGIST, private Tampa, FL lab


Leave a comment

Do I need an autopsy?

This really needs to be addressed by consultation with a knowledgeable pathologist in advance. What questions do you have? What do we already know? Are we going to be able to tell you something new? Not always. Might we find something we didn’t already know? Maybe. But is it worth the expense? Autopsies are not inexpensive and not covered by any insurance. Dr. Schultz wants to make sure you make an educated decision. We can also read medical records and explain what was happening-something treating Doctors lack the time to do.

Photo by Olya Kobruseva on Pexels.com


1 Comment

Second Autopsy

Second autopsies by Final Diagnosis, Inc. can provide reassurances on the validity of an initial autopsy report. That said, second autopsies offer unique challenges. They can occasionally uncover missed trauma, disease, or poisoning (see image). The second autopsy pathologist must also contend with the artifacts of the earlier dissection. Vital information that was evident to the original pathologist should be obtained if feasible. For example, the relationships between organs, reactions like bleeding, and the original appearances of these organs should be clarified. A pathologist that proceeds with a second autopsy in a vacuum is asking for trouble. Artifacts such as blood oozing from vessels can lead to the appearance of trauma when it may not have initially existed. Critical diagnostic tissues may be also be absent given the need by the original pathologist to either test or retain evidentiary specimens. The physical evidence which can be seen on the first autopsy is significantly diminished in the second autopsy. It is important that the private autopsy pathologist spends time discussing the value (or not) of proceeding with an autopsy at any juncture.

What was initially a natural death was in fact a poisoning: antifreeze ingestion leading to ethylene glycol poisoning, suggesting either suicide, homicide, or perhaps accident.


Leave a comment

Funeral Homes Wait for an Autopsy Here?

funeral homeYes!  Your funeral home staff can wait in comfort during an autopsy here at our facility.   We have a meeting room for family conferences and a comfortable waiting area with refreshments, TV, comfy lounge chairs plus – free WiFi.  If you are in the funeral home business and any of your families need an autopsy for their peace-of-mind, please watch the short video below, thank you.


Leave a comment

Medical Malpractice: The Autopsy Truth

Hospital malpractice autopsuMissed diagnoses and medical malpractice effect the overall quality of care. That results in costly strains on our health care system. Most autopsies document good medical care, but depending on the details of the death or injury, performing an autopsy is to simply and objectively discover the true cause of death – which should be the goal for all parties involved.

For example, a hospital where there’s an issue regarding diagnosis of prophylaxis for leg clots or a pulmonary embolism – the speculation of the diagnosis creates additional costs for everyone; hospitals, families, attorneys, etc. Many hospitals might choose to settle medical malpractice, some not. Costs escalate regardless.

autopsy results A properly documented autopsy can reveal the truth. Using the example above – an expert forensic pathologist’s report, supported by high-quality autopsy photos, could show either a pulmonary embolism or not, or possibly an alternative medical-related cause. Finding the true cause of death through an autopsy can be healing for the family as well as reduce medical malpractice costs for the hospital. The truth can not only provide an education for the hospital staff and closure for families – but save everyone time and expensive litigation fees.

Dr. Dan Schultz

As a forensic pathologist, I have a passion for taking on the challenge of discovering the true cause of a death. And as an expert autopsy doctor and pathologist, I provide the non-biased truth, supported with expert photos and documentation. The goal is to get the truth through final diagnosis.