A mortician has left social media users stunned after revealing one body part that may sometimes be removed during an autopsy.
Gerald Ledford, who has worked in the funeral industry for nearly two decades, regularly shares behind-the-scenes insights into forensic procedures with his millions of followers online.
His videos often address 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 such as tongue removal can sound unsettling at first. However, for pathologists and autopsy technicians, the procedure is simply part of ensuring that no important evidence is overlooked.
That reality became a viral topic after one follower asked Ledford a surprisingly common question regarding autopsies and body piercings.
“What about piercings?” the TikTok user asked, insisting they wanted their piercings to remain intact after death.
‘The only one that I take out…’
“You worried I’m going to take your piercings out because you don’t get to take them with you?” Ledford began, 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 and 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 shock across social media, with many viewers surprised to learn that the tongue can sometimes be removed during forensic examinations.
“So you’re telling me every time I’ve been to a funeral, the person was just hanging out with no tongue and I didn’t know,” one user wrote. Another commented: “All of us freaking out over the thought of our tongues being removed… after we’re already dead!”
Many admitted they had never considered how detailed autopsies can be, while others said the information completely changed the way they think about the body after death.
“So I’m just going to be immediately cremated. These videos give me too much anxiety about what happens to my body and what gets inserted or removed,” one person wrote.
‘Not a standard procedure’
“Wait — you take out the tongue? Can I sign a no tongue removal clause?” another asked.
“Remember, not everyone has an autopsy,” someone else pointed out.
While many viewers assumed tongue removal occurs during every autopsy, medical experts say the reality is more complex.
According to MedicineNet, the tongue may be removed in certain autopsies to allow pathologists to fully examine the mouth and throat structures. The process can help investigators check for injuries, hidden substances, abnormalities, or signs that could indicate 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 ruling out other possible causes of death,” the medical site explains.
However, MedicineNet also notes that tongue removal “is not a standard procedure during autopsies.” Instead, the decision depends on the circumstances surrounding the death and the specific type of examination being performed.
How do you feel about the possibility of having your tongue removed after death? Share your thoughts, and let us know what you think.
