Autopsy-+Mack

1) The part of the Torah that discusses autopsy after death is in Deuteronomy 21 and it states: "his body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt surely bury him the same day; for he that is hanged is a reproach unto God; that thou defile not thy land which the LORD thy god giveth thee for an inheritance."

2) Some Rabbis say that autopsy should be strictly forbidden, while others argue that it is a great mitvah

3) Anti-Autopsy Arguments:
 * 1) Despoiling of a dead body is forbidden by Jewish law
 * 2) Once an autopsy is done on a body, it is impure

4) Pro-Autopsy Arguments
 * 1) The preservation of a body is of the highest commandments
 * 2) The use of organs to save another life is a great mitzvah



My opinion is that if you are performing an autopsy on a dead body in order to save another persons life should be permitted, if fact, encouraged. This si because nothing is more important than saving another life.