Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in Florida

Do i have a right to deny autopsy under any circumstances?

Ok. further clarification.

I wish for my deceased body to ONLY be handled by family OR our personal family mortician, a licenced medical professional, and no one else. I want no member of law enforcement to touch my body in any way once i am dead. i absolutely want NO modifications made to my remains, nor to have blood taken, nor any part or fluid for the purpose of any type of testing. i want no means of chemical preservation, nor mechanical fluid evacuation. i wish to be left completely intact with as minimal contact as necessary. Do i have any rights as an expired individual to legally preclude anyone from tampering with my body apon my death? Just to help you more, i am an often suicidal person with regular usage of drugs which could lead to suspicious death at any time, just as michael jackson, only no where as wealthy or ... nevermind. The difference being that i have no insurance policy that would need confirmed reason for death. I also have it well known to all who know me that my feelings of life are ambivical at best and that my right to remain unmolested after my last breath is more important to me then weather i was acciderntly poisoned or downright murdered. If they can't tell by my outer appearance or the circumstances in which i was found, it is to be ruled "unknown death", with my body to be creamated on the 3rd day of death. i am to be kept near freezing with my favorite blanket over me in the morgue while not attending services or riding alongside the countryside with my family on one last trip around town or wherever. only Douglas Stone, our family mortician has authority to handle and manipulate my body. Please tell me what the law is regarding this practice in both florida and massachusetts as i am a resident of both states. I also intend to have all services performed in Mass. My body will need to be transported to Mass apon death, if i can't get there ahead of time. Thank you for your time.


Asked on 10/16/09, 5:49 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Alan Wagner Wagner, McLaughlin & Whittemore P.A.

If you are the victim of homicide or the authorities believe that you died by other than natural causes then they have the authority to perform an autopsy. There is nothing you can do about that.

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Answered on 10/16/09, 6:49 am


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