Doctors: Are autopsies ALWAYS DONE can I avoid one legally

I don't want an autopsy... Why? As vain, juvenile, and nonsensical as this may sound *I am aware*, I don't want to be poked, prodded, cut open like meat, and then stuffed and stitched back up only to be a hybrid of my formal self at my funeral unless I make the choice to donate organs. An autopsy is meant to determine how you died, research, and organ donations. If I die of natural causes or obvious and logged illness I want to be left uncut.

So saw one done on film and actually was invited by a friend in med school to a little observational task he was doing within the medical institute of our University OMG..... He just smirked at me after showing me open abdominal tendons and a dismembered brain tissue he had "successfully" dealt with earlier that day.

*No I shouldn't have been there, snuck me in late evening to witness his "great observations"*

No, autopsies are not done routinely and are only a very small percentage of deaths. They are done for several reasons and if you do not have one of those reasons, one will not be done on you. If you legally have to have one however, you will have one, regardless of what you wanted (you will be in no position to argue).

If you create a will stating religious beliefs that involve NO autopsy to be performed, you will be alright. Religious rights seem to outweigh many laws, especially in regard to respect for one's body. The Muslims specifically do not normally condone autopsies even in cases of murder due to their belief of quick burial. The Jews also have issues with autopsy, but will consent if the autopsy may help save the lives of others, or when relatives might benefit from the knowledge gained by autopsy.

if your cause of death is unknown, or homicide and or foul play is suspected in your death then it is unavoidable, however your chances of getting one is very low. and that cadaver was donated to science specifically for that reason. you shouldn't donate your body to science if you don't want them to cut you open, otherwise you should be fine.