Orthodox Jewish Family Declines Autopsy After Long Island Mom Dies in Pool Crash
Allison Rahmani, a Nassau County teacher, died when her SUV entered her backyard pool, and her Orthodox Jewish family refused an autopsy, leaving the cause of death unknown.
Allison Rahmani, a math coordinator at the Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns, died after her SUV plunged into her family’s backyard swimming pool in Hewlett, Nassau County. She managed to dial 911 after the crash but later died en route to the hospital. A relative confirmed that, adhering to their Orthodox Jewish faith, the family will not permit an autopsy, meaning the precise medical cause of death will remain undetermined.
Under New York State Public Health law, authorities can only compel an autopsy for criminal investigations or public-health reasons, neither of which apply here. Police have classified the event as a tragic accident, and no criminal inquiry is underway. Rahmani’s funeral was held on Sunday at Boulevard-Riverside Chapels, and she was interred according to her religious customs.
Why it matters
The story highlights how religious beliefs can limit forensic investigations, leaving some deaths medically unexplained.
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