post-mortem examination

[/poʊst ˈmɔr təm ɪɡˈzæm ə neɪ ʃən/]
nounpl: post-mortem examinations
autópsia
1. A medical examination of a dead body performed by a pathologist to determine the cause of death
The post-mortem examination revealed that the patient died from a heart attack.
A autópsia revelou que o paciente morreu de um infarto do miocárdio.
2. A detailed analysis or review of something that has failed or ended
The company conducted a post-mortem examination of the failed project to identify areas for improvement.
A empresa realizou uma análise post-mortem do projeto fracassado para identificar áreas de melhoria.
In both Brazil and the USA, post-mortem examinations are often legally required when death is unexpected, suspicious, or occurs under unclear circumstances. In Brazil, these are typically ordered by a 'perito' (forensic expert) or medical examiner. The term is also widely used in business contexts to analyze project failures or corporate setbacks, reflecting its metaphorical application to non-medical situations.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
autopsynecropsypostmortemPM examinationpathological examination

Regional Variations

General Brazilian Portuguese
autópsia
Standard term used in medical and legal contexts
General Brazilian Portuguese
exame post-mortem
Direct translation, less common than autópsia
Portugal
autópsia
Same as Brazilian Portuguese, standard medical terminology
Portugal
necropsia
Technical alternative used in medical literature

Related Words

pathologistforensic medicinecause of deathmedical examinercoronerforensic autopsy

Related Idioms & Phrases

conduct a post-mortem examination
perform a post-mortem
a post-mortem on a failed project
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