Contact us
Department of Forensic Medicine
11, Frederik V's Vej
2100 Copenhagen
Tel.: +45 35 32 61 94
E-mail: Retsmedicinsk.Institut@sund.ku.dk
We are open Mon-Thurs at 9 a.m.-15 p.m. / Fri at 9 a.m.-14 p.m.
See our Staff list for other contact information.
If you wish to say goodbye to a deceased relative, please make an appointment prior to your visit on +45 20 40 46 20.
For more information, please call the Section of Forensic Pathology +45 93 56 57 01.
The collection is only open to researchers and employees at archaeological and museum institutions. You have to make an appointment.
Please contact:
Marie Louise Schjellerup Jørkov
E-mail: mljorkov@sund.ku.dk
Collection of deceased individuals from the Department of Forensic Medicine
Deceased individuals can only be released with police authorization. This permission is granted when the police sign page 1 of the death certificate after all examinations have been concluded.
The funeral director must present a physical copy of the death certificate to the mortuary staff at the Section of Forensic Pathology.
Do not book your appointment to collect the deceased until police permission has been granted. If the deceased is to be transported abroad, a laissez-passer permit is also required (see below for details).
Booking an appointment to collect the deceased
Contact the mortuary staff at the Section of Forensic Pathology between 8:00-9:00 AM and 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM, Monday-Friday, at
📞+45 20 40 46 20.
If you are unsure about the status of the examinations, contact the secretaries at the Section of Forensic Pathology by email at rpa@sikkermail.forensic.ku.dk or call +45 93 56 57 01.
The death certificate
The death certificate can only be obtained from the Danish Patient Safety Authority, and in some cases from the Copenhagen Police Department.
The Section of Forensic Pathology can inform you which authority is responsible in each case.
If the Danish Patient Safety Authority does not already have the certificate, funeral directors may request that it be sent to the Danish Patient Safety Authority by contacting the Section of Forensic Pathology at rpa@sikkermail.forensic.ku.dk.
Please include:
- Full name of the deceased
- Full name and contact number of the funeral director business
Note: The Section of Forensic Pathology is not permitted to send the death certificate directly to funeral directors.
The laissez-passer permit
If the deceased is to be transported abroad, a laissez-passer permit is required.
In Denmark, this permit is issued by the Supervision and Guidance divisions of the Danish Patient Safety Authority.
How to obtain a laissez-passer permit
- The funeral director or person responsible for the transport must send an email to the Section of Forensic Pathology at rpa@sikkermail.forensic.ku.dk, requesting that that the necessary medical information be forwarded to the Danish Patient Safety Authority. The request must include the name and ID number of the deceased.
- The Section of Forensic Pathology will send the relevant medical information to the Danish Patient Safety Authority.
- Additional documents and information are required before the permit can be issued:
See: Issuance of laissez-passer for a corpse | The Danish Patient Safety Authority - Once approved, the permit can be collected at the Danish Patient Safety Authority.
For questions about the laissez-passer permit, contact the Danish Patient Safety Authority:
Islands Brygge 67, 2300 København S
📞+45 7228 6600