Legal jurisdictions in most Western countries have legislation that allows acoroner or medical examiner to mandate an autopsy without consent by the next of kin in certain situations (e.g., suspected foul play, unexpected death, or when the cause of death is not clear). If these conditions are not met, consent by the next of kin is mandatory (1). Medicolegal autopsies usually allow for the retention of specimens, including whole organs, when necessary for pathological study. Investigations of (possible) homicide will typically take priority over family objections. Hospital autopsies were traditionally requested by physicians to understand the death of apatient under their care. For many decades, the standard autopsy consent form typically stated that it is customary practice to remove and retain some organs, tissues, and other parts as appropriate for diagnostic, research, or teaching purposes. However, legal precedent in American law indicates that it is advisable to secure extended consent if specimens are to be retained for dedicated research purposes (1). More explicit disclosure is necessary when the anticipated research might have diagnostic significance to living family members (2).