A mortician has left social media users speechless after disclosing the one body part that could be taken out during an autopsy.
Gerald Ledford, who has been in the funeral industry for almost twenty years, frequently shares behind-the-scenes glimpses of forensic procedures with his millions of online followers.
His videos often tackle uncomfortable or unusual inquiries regarding the funeral industry, forensic investigations, and post-mortem practices.
What is an autopsy?
MedicineNet describes autopsies as being “conducted primarily to ascertain the cause of death, to identify or characterize the extent of diseases that the individual may have had, or to evaluate whether a specific medical or surgical treatment has been effective.”
For those unfamiliar with forensic medicine, aspects like tongue removal can initially seem unsettling. However, for pathologists and autopsy technicians, this procedure is merely a part of ensuring that no vital evidence is overlooked.
This reality became a viral topic after one follower posed a surprisingly common question to Ledford about autopsies and body piercings.
“What about piercings?” the TikToker inquired, insisting that their piercings remain intact after death.
‘The only one that I take out…’
“You’re worried I’m going to remove your piercings, and you don’t get to take them with you?” Ledford began, shaking his head. “The only one that I take out is your tongue ring. I remove your tongue during an autopsy to ensure you didn’t bite down on it and to check for any drugs in the back of your throat. But nipples, nose, ears, eyebrows, private parts…”
The comment quickly caused confusion and shock on social media, as many viewers were taken aback to learn that the tongue can be taken out during forensic examinations.
“So you’re saying that every time I’ve attended a funeral, the deceased was just there without a tongue and I had no idea,” remarked one netizen. Another added: “We’re all panicking at the thought of our tongues being taken out…after we die!”
Numerous people confessed they had never thought about how thorough autopsies can be, while others mentioned that this information has forever altered their perspective on bodies post-mortem.
“So I’m just going to opt for immediate cremation. These videos make me too anxious about what happens to my body and the things that are taken out or put in,” one user commented.
‘Not a common practice’
“Wait – you actually remove the tongue? Is there a way I can sign a no tongue removal agreement?” another user expressed.
“Keep in mind that not everyone undergoes an autopsy,” someone else pointed out.
While many viewers believed that tongue removal is a standard part of every autopsy, medical professionals clarify that the truth is more complex.
As stated by MedicineNet, the tongue may be extracted in specific autopsies to enable pathologists to thoroughly investigate the oral cavity and throat structures. This procedure can assist investigators in identifying injuries, concealed substances, irregularities, or indications that might reveal the cause of death.
“This phase is vital in forensic medicine and pathology as it facilitates a thorough investigation of the neck organs, which is necessary for ruling out alternative causes of death,” the medical site clarifies.
Nevertheless, MedicineNet points out that tongue removal “is not a typical practice during autopsies.” Rather, the choice hinges on the specific circumstances of the death and the nature of the examination being performed.
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