‘Virtual Autopsies’ Set New Gold Standard in Forensic Medicine

‘Virtual Autopsies’ Set New Gold Standard in Forensic Medicine
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The future of forensic science is non-invasive. Virtual autopsies—a method that provides quicker, more accurate results without physically opening the body—have been deemed the new “gold standard” in forensic medicine by a top Swiss pathologist.

Michael Josef Thali, Professor and Director of the Institute of Forensic Medicine at the University of Zurich, shared this outlook at Türkiye’s 20th International Forensic Medicine Days congress, speaking to Anadolu Agency. The sophisticated, non-invasive technique relies on advanced imaging technologies such as Computer Tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), and 3-D imaging to comprehensively examine human remains.

Thali highlighted the method’s numerous benefits: A full scan is remarkably fast, often taking only five minutes, which allows for rapid and precise information gathering. Crucially, it addresses cultural and religious concerns tied to traditional, invasive autopsies by ensuring the body remains intact. The technology also proves highly effective when examining highly compromised remains, such as decomposed, burned, or mutilated bodies.

The professor noted that this modern approach is already being adopted by approximately 100 countries globally. The University of Zurich has successfully replaced fully one-third of its classical autopsies using the virtual method. Thali also pointed to the growing role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in further enhancing the speed and diagnostic capabilities of this cutting-edge forensic process.