Sudden Natural Death in Adults

Abstract

Sudden natural death in adults is attributed to various causes of death. The most frequently encountered cause of death is cardiovascular system. However, in certain cases such deaths cannot be explained by complete autopsy, especially in healthy young cadavers. Nevertheless,
there has been significant evidence to believe that the death might be due to a familial fatal cardiac channelopathy. Accordingly, it has been under extensive genetic research over the past decade. Currently, there is an idea to use such genetic testing as a new investigatory tool, so-called “molecular autopsy” in identifying a cause of natural death more accurately and precisely, and other disease-causing mutations as well. This will make forensic pathology more advanced and more comprehensive in terms of standard operating procedures and family coverage for those surviving at-risk family members.