In this photograph, we see a human body that was exhumed after being buried for approximately nine months. The exhumation was authorized due to suspicions of an iatrogenic cause of death — that is, a death potentially resulting from medical treatment or intervention.

In this photograph, we see a human body that was exhumed after being buried for approximately nine months. The exhumation was authorized due to suspicions of an iatrogenic cause of death — that is, a death potentially resulting from medical treatment or intervention.

Legally, exhumation refers to the process of recovering a body that has been lawfully buried in a cemetery, usually for judicial, scientific, or identification purposes. This procedure is typically ordered by legal authorities and carried out under strict supervision to preserve the integrity of both the remains and the evidence.

Once exhumed, the body may undergo a new post-mortem examination, commonly referred to as a secondary autopsy. This can serve different purposes — sometimes it’s the first opportunity to perform a forensic examination if one was not conducted previously, and other times it’s a follow-up procedure aimed at clarifying, confirming, or refuting earlier findings.

Exhumations can provide crucial insights into cases involving suspected foul play, medical negligence, or unresolved causes of death. Even after months or years, modern forensic techniques — including toxicology, DNA analysis, and histopathology — can often uncover valuable evidence that was not initially detected.

Ultimately, exhumation plays a vital role in the pursuit of truth and justice, ensuring that unanswered questions surrounding a person’s death can be re-examined with scientific precision and legal transparency.