Perspectives on the construction of forensic autopsy laboratories designed to handle infectious diseases

Coronavirus disease 2019 has already infected tens of thousands of people in China. The existing autopsy laboratories are not qualified to perform autopsies on individuals confirmed or suspected to have died from an infectious disease. When dealing with corpses with uncertain health conditions or unknown contact with a pathogen, the forensic medical practitioners face severe risks of being infected. To meet the requirements of performing autopsies on such bodies, ensure the health and safety of forensic medical practitioners, and study the pathophysiological changes of infected patients, it is necessary to improve the construction requirements and regulations for forensic autopsy laboratories.