Ludwig van Beethoven: The Composer Who Requested His Own Autopsy

Ludwig van Beethoven was one of the most brilliant composers to ever live and has a special place in the minds of many pathologists, embodying the spirit of the Latin phrase “Mortui Vivos Docent” or “The dead teach the living.” Beethoven requested his own autopsy 25 years prior to his untimely death in 1827, during a time in which autopsy was still a taboo practice, proving himself to be ahead of his time not only in music composition, but in medical science.

#Beethoven #rokitansky #liver #victorianmedicine #cirrhosis #pagetsdisease #leadpoisoning #autopsy #composer #opera #thedeadteachtheliving #HeiligenstadtTestament

If you can, please consider making a donation to https://liverfoundation.org

Find Dr. Wolfe and Jessie on Instagram:

@knifeafterdeath

Find the Knife After Death YouTube Channel:

@knifeafterdeath.drwolfe

For any questions for Dr. Wolfe or submissions for Q&A episodes, please email producer Jessie Bones at [e-mail]