Professor Derrick Pounder, head of the Centre for Forensic and Legal Medicine at Dundee University warned that around 80,000 unnecessary dissections are carried out each year as part of investigation in England and Wales.

The numbers of post-mortem examinations are unjustifiably high which turned mortuaries into ‘production-line abattoirs’.

However, some post mortems are essential for investigation of possible crimes, but the rate could be reduced by 60% if pathologists adopt the method of detailed external examination pioneered in Tayside.

This will lead to strike the balance in different way and be more respectful for the rights and views of families, and not simply perform autopsies as a reflex.

In England and Wales, majority of the bodies dissected have died of natural causes since the issue has been raised in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine.

Prof Pounder suggested that pathologists should be given some powers either to perform an external examination of the body or a dissection.

An external examination should include recording of all identification features from head to toe, old and recent injuries, clothing and recent medical procedures.

There should be permission to remove small samples for toxicological tests.