Thursday, April 28, 2005
On the Origins of “Autopsy”
The etymology of the word autopsy is fascinating. It comes from the Greek “auto” meaning self and “opsy” meaning eye. In making an inference, one can assume that the word means “to see oneself.” According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the autopsy first meant “seeing with one’s own eyes, eye-witnessing; personal observation or insprection.” The first uses of the word autopsy were with regards to self-reflection and observation. In 1651, Robert Wittie wrote, “or by autopsie, when by our observation, wee get a certaine knowledge of things.” Thomas De Quincey says in “Miracles” that “the defect of autopsy may be compensated by sufficient testimony of a multitude.” In both of these examples, the word autopsy is being referred to as a means of self-examination and critique.