An autopsy on the body of Dr. Claude Champagne of Donaldson-ville was performed by the Orleans parish coroner's office and the body released to the Ascension parish coroner at 3 pm Saturday, Dr. Nicholas Chetta, Orleans parish coroner, said.
Dr. Chetta said the autopsy would be considered incomplete until the results of certain laboratory tests are made known "in about a day or so."
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p. m. Sunday at the Landry Montz funeral home at Donaldsonville. Burial will be in Roselawn Memorial Park, Baton Rouge.
Dr. Champagne, a prominent Donaldsonville physician, died Friday night.
The autopsy was asked when Dr. D. C. Brumfield, Ascension parish coroner, and other physicians could not determine cause of death. Dr. Champagne was found lying on the floor in his parlor. The coroner said there was no particular reason to suspect foul play, but the autopsy is a routine procedure when cause of death is not
determined. He said Dr. Champagne was not known to have had a heart condition at the time of his death.
Dr. Brumfield said the body bore several bruises, but that these could have been incurred in a fall, and that none appeared to have been severe.
Should the autopsy warrant, an investigation will be made by As-icension Sheriff Hinckley Wague-spack into the cause of death, Dr. Brumfield said.
The 40-year-old native of Coving-ton and former resident ot Baton Rouge was a graduate of Louisiana State university and its medical school and had practiced in Donaldsonville since 1943.
