A mortician has left social media users tongue-tied after revealing the one body part that might be removed during an autopsy.
Gerald Ledford, who has worked in the funeral industry for nearly two decades, regularly shares behind-the-scenes insights from forensic procedures with his millions of followers online.
His videos often answer uncomfortable or unusual questions about the funeral industry, forensic investigations, and post-mortem procedures.
What is an autopsy?
MedicineNet explains that autopsies are “performed primarily to determine the cause of death, to identify or characterize the extent of disease states that the person may have had, or to determine whether a particular medical or surgical treatment has been effective.”
For people unfamiliar with forensic medicine, details like tongue removal can sound disturbing at first. But for pathologists and autopsy technicians, the procedure is simply part of making sure no critical evidence is missed.
That reality became a viral talking point after one follower asked Ledford a surprisingly common question about autopsies and body piercings.
“What about piercings,” the TikToker asked, insisting their piercings stay intact after death.
‘The only one that I take out…’
“You worried I’m going to take your piercings out, you don’t get to take them with you?” Ledford started, shaking his head. “The only one that I take out is your tongue ring. I remove your tongue during an autopsy, we need to make sure you didn’t bite down on it, make sure you don’t have drugs in the back of your throat. But nipples, nose, ears, eyebrows, private parts…”
The comment immediately sparked confusion and horror across social media, with many viewers stunned to hear the tongue can be removed during forensic examinations.
“So you’re telling me every time I’ve been to a funeral, the person was just chilling with no tongue and I didn’t know,” shared one netizen. A second wrote: “All of us freaking out at the thought of our tongues being removed…after we are dead!”
Many admitted they had never considered how detailed autopsies can be, while others said the information permanently changed how they think about bodies after death.
“So I’m just going to be immediately cremated. These videos give me too much anxiety over what happens to my body and things inserted/removed,” one wrote.
‘Not a standard procedure’
“Wait – you take out the tongue? Can I sign a no tongue removal clause?” a second shared.
“Remember not everyone has an autopsy,” another added.
While many viewers assumed tongue removal happens during every autopsy, medical experts say the reality is more nuanced.
According to MedicineNet, the tongue may be removed in certain autopsies to allow pathologists to fully examine the oral cavity and throat structures. The process can help investigators check for injuries, hidden substances, abnormalities, or signs that could point to a cause of death.
“This step is crucial in forensic medicine and pathology because it allows for a detailed examination of the neck organs, which is essential for excluding other possible causes of death,” the medical site explains.
However, MedicineNet notes that tongue removal “is not a standard procedure during autopsies.” Instead, the decision depends on the circumstances surrounding the death and the type of examination being conducted.
How do you feel about potentially having your tongue removed after death? Please let us know your thoughts, and then share this article so we can hear from others!
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