Autopsy

"Hodgkin created one of the first pathology specimen museums (now known as the "Gordon Museum" at Guy's Hospital, London) organized by systems for student and physician education. He was an important proponent of the autopsy and one of the first physicians to devote himself almost entirely to autopsy performance ..."

"Removing and examining the brain of a dead person does not go beyond the purview of standard autopsy procedure. Harvey, however, has been neither asked nor authorized to do what he does next to Einstein's body, nor does the Hippocratic oath endorse his actions. He saws off the head of the dead man and scoops out its contents. He holds the brain in his hand the way Hamlet held Yorick's skull. In these two and a half pounds of nerve tissue, he is certain, lies the key to understanding the greatest intellectual creative power. If it were possible to elicit the trade secret from this organ, he, the pathologist, would gain fame and honor. He decides to walk off with it and never give it back."

"Autopsies are forbidden within the Islamic faith except when ordered by the Coroner. In these circumstances, the reasons why an autopsy is needed must be clearly explained to the family, due to religious sensitivities as already mentioned. If an autopsy is required, then the ritual preparations in care of the body will begin after."