These and a great many other fascinating facts fill the pages of Dr. Richard A. Prayson's Diagnoses from the Dead, which introduces autopsy in straightforward terms and describes, step by step, how an autopsy is performed. Dr. Prayson examines the role of autopsy in medicine, forensics, pathology, and criminal science-and also includes insightful discussions of the history, ethics, and religious considerations surrounding the practice. By including real-life stories and case studies, Diagnoses from the Dead brings the issues surrounding this still debated practice to life. What kinds of insights can autopsies provide about how a person lived and died? What happens to the body after an autopsy? Why has the autopsy rate dropped from 50% to 6% in recent decades? Dr. Prayson answers these questions and many more in this fascinating work on a practice that has been controversial for centuries. If you have considered a career in medicine, forensic science, or criminal justice, or are simply curious about autopsies and wish to learn more, this is a must-read! Book jacket.