Also called an autopsy (and less commonly, necropsy), this is an examination of a body to discover the causes of death. Such an examination is sometimes required by law: in the UK this includes any death occurring in suspicious circumstances, or a death for which a doctor is unable to complete a certificate giving the cause. All must be reported to the CORONER (in Scotland, to the procurator fiscal). He or she may order an autopsy to be carried out as part of the inquiry into cause of death. Sometimes doctors may request the permission of relatives to perform a post-mortem so that they may discover something of value for the improvement of medical care. Relatives may refuse consent for this latter type of post-mortem. (See also DEATH, CAUSES OF.)