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The role of the autopsy is therefore important but should not be overstated. An autopsy is a medical examination intended to help determine why and how someone died. It can reveal anatomical findings and other evidence that may not have been apparent beforehand. Investigators can compare those findings with medical records and information surrounding the person’s final hours. However, the existence of an autopsy does not itself indicate wrongdoing. In an unexpected death, it can simply be part of the process of obtaining reliable answers.
The family’s desire for clarity is understandable regardless of what the investigation ultimately determines. When someone enters a medical setting expecting an ordinary procedure and the day ends very differently, relatives naturally want a complete explanation. That need should not be confused with a conclusion about fault. A family can ask difficult questions without those questions themselves proving negligence. Investigators likewise can review a death thoroughly without their involvement establishing criminal or medical misconduct.
The most responsible coverage therefore leaves room for the evidence to determine what happened. It does not declare a complication from surgery when authorities say the surgery did not occur. It does not identify an unnamed medication or treatment as responsible. It does not accuse a hospital, physician, nurse or other professional without findings supporting such an accusation. It simply reports that Emmy’s death was unexpected, that medical records were being reviewed and that an autopsy was being conducted.
At the same time, Emmy’s life should not disappear beneath the investigation. The school district’s tribute provides an important counterbalance to the medical questions. Emmy had just completed an entire kindergarten year filled with ordinary childhood experiences. She had classmates she cared about and adults who knew her personality well enough to give her an affectionate nickname. She had plans for the next school year. She had clothing chosen for an event she expected to attend.