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Why must a medicolegal postmortem examination be complete rather than partial?

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autopsy English physicians Charles Scarborough and Edward Arris performing an autopsy in 1651 (watercolour painted in 1818 by G.P. Harding from an original work in the Barber Surgeons' Hall, London).

A medicolegal postmortem examination must be complete rather than partial to ensure that all potential contributory causes of death are ruled out.1

In forensic cases, the cause of death is not an isolated, tangible entity but a concept or opinion derived from a comprehensive investigation. Because the findings of a medicolegal autopsy often serve as critical legal evidence in criminal or civil litigation, the examination must be meticulous, detailed, and exhaustive to maintain accuracy and integrity. Limiting an examination to a partial study risks overlooking evidence that could be vital to establishing the true mechanism or circumstances of death.12