The authority to order a medico-legal autopsy lies exclusively with the court or police as it involves investigation of unnatural, suspicious, or unexplained deaths. This procedure is carried out to establish cause, manner, and circumstances of death for legal purposes. The patient's family or hospital officials do not have the legal mandate to request such autopsies, as it requires official authorization to ensure the chain of custody and judicial integrity. Only designated legal authorities can direct forensic pathologists to perform these autopsies to aid in criminal investigations or legal proceedings.

Reference: Principles of Forensic Medicine, K.S. Narayan Reddy, 6th Edition.