Would agent orange show up in an autopsy?

Question

My dad was was a Vietnam Vet and exposed to agent orange (he told me). He passed in 1994 of a stroke. Would agent orange show in his autopsy or would that test have to be specifically requested?

Answer 1

The agent orange itself would not show up the autopsy. It would have been long processed by then.

However if the coroner was specifically looking for it, they should notice the damage that the particular chemical has caused.

In a routine autopsy though they wouldn't be looking for it. Often things get written off as "age related damage to vital organs" or "damage of unknown/ insignificant origin.

Having a stroke this long on since exposure is not likely to be related to agent orange. The most common damage seen on Autopsy is micro vascular damage to the lungs.

Hope this helps

Sorry for your loss.

Answer 2

i don't think the chemical itself would show up but the effects of being exposed to it could be found if the M.E. had experience dealing with agent orange.  

Answer 3

I believe the doctor doing the autopsy would have to have his complete medical records and be ask to do specific tests to look for it.

Answer 4

requested