-
Tuesday, 08 May 2007
CBS News
Every day hundreds of people die in Southern California and often they take the secrets of their deaths to the grave. But tonight, we have a rare and exclusive look at how the secrets of the dead are being revealed. We warn you that the images contained in our video report involve a real body and some footage may be considered graphic.
Every day hundreds of people die in Southern California and often they take the secrets of their deaths to the grave. But tonight, we have a rare and exclusive look at how the secrets of the dead are being revealed. We warn you that the images contained in our video report involve a real body and some footage may be considered graphic.
When a loved one dies there are often questions about the death that go unanswered.
"Families are desperate to know what happened," Vidal Herrera says.
Now, there is a way to give loved ones some peace of mind.
"My name is Vidal Herrera. I'm the founder of 1-800-AUTOPSY."
Herrera's company performs private, post-mortem examinations.
"Our motto is the deceased must be protected and given a voice," Herrera says.
This 65-year-old man died more than two months ago and even though he's been properly embalmed and buried for weeks, his wife, filled with grief and uncertainty, had her husband's body exhumed and brought here to this sterile autopsy room to find out exactly how he died.
She agreed to let us videotape the procedure.
First, detailed pictures of the deceased are taken; his height and weight recorded. The internal exam begins with a Y-shaped incision from the shoulders to the pubic bone. The skin and muscle are peeled back to expose the rib cage and abdominal cavity. It's now in this small room, the body starts to reveal the truth.
"It's as though the body is speaking to us," Herrera says.
Next, the liver, heart, lungs and other organs are removed, while small tissue samples are taken by a board-certified pathologist to examine further under a microscope.
And the top of the skull is sawed off so the brain can be gently removed and weighed.
Autopsy assistants say a thorough post-mortem inquiry can take up to eight hours and can be performed even years after death.
Finally, the body is sewn up and returned to its original condition.
"It's a thankless profession, it never stops, seven days a week," Herrera says.
To some hiring a private pathologist might seem macabre.
"They'll call us and say, ‘You know, I just can't sleep. I cannot sleep. This is really eating me up. I have to do this.' And we give them peace of mind."
But the owner of 1-800-AUTOPSY says peace of mind actually gives life back to the living.
Families from all over the world have used this local service.
You can expect a complete report with the cause of death within thirty days.
It costs $3,000 to $6,000.
http://www.cbs2.com/video/?id=
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
