Van Deventer, Barbara StrohDu Toit-Prinsloo, LorraineVan Niekerk, Chantal2023-02-272023-02-272022-12Van Deventer, B.S., Du Toit-Prinsloo, L., Van Niekerk, C. 2022, 'Postmortem genetic testing in young individuals : what clinical medical practitioners need to know', South African Medical Journal, vol. 112, no. 12, pp. 886-889, doi : 10.7196/SAMJ.2022.v112i12.16800.0256-9574 (print)2078-5135 (online)10.7196/SAMJ.2022.v112i12.16800https://repository.up.ac.za/handle/2263/89850The death of a young person is most often a tragic occurrence, more so when this death was unexpected. Forensic pathologists are mandated to investigate such deaths, and there has been a strong move internationally towards genetic testing as an additional investigative tool. The aim of our article is to bring the advantage of implementing the so-called molecular autopsy in a local setting to the attention of medical practitioners. When a multidisciplinary approach is taken in cases of sudden unexpected death, the benefits to family members, and society as a whole, are irrefutable.en© 2022 Health & Medical Publishing Group. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial Works License (CC BY-NC 3.0).DeathYoung personTragic occurrenceForensic pathologistsPostmortem genetic testingHealth sciences articles SDG-03SDG-03: Good health and well-beingArticle