I'm a forensic pathologist - AMA

[slightlybrownbanana]

I do autopsies every week on a range of different type of deaths, not just homicides. People are often fascinated when I tell them what I do and it is very interesting but not like on the telly.

Thanks for starting this thread @slightlybrownbanana It's fascinating.

I wondered if you could help with a question about what an inquest involves in a situation of a late primary school child suddenly dying. Death certificate marked cause of death as asphyxiation?

Would there possibly been a post mortem? I'm wondering how the cause of death could be established otherwise.

This is dating back 30-40 years however.

Thank you.

@cheeserolls I would need more information to help with that I'm afraid. "Asphyxiation" is a mode of death (!it literally means lack of oxygen) which is the end point of numerous causes of death including choking on food, strangulation, being crushed, smothered or could be natural. Do you know anything more about the circumstances?

Thank you @slightlybrownbanana

The only additional information I know is that it might have been some kind of fit. The word epileptiform was used. I don't believe the deceased had epilepsy although it's hard to know for sure.

My understanding is that the child went to bed healthy and then didn't wake again.

@cheeserolls in this scenario I would expect a post mortem to take place carried out by a paediatric pathologist; only if there were suspicious circumstances would a forensic pathologist be involved. Beyond that with such limited information I can't really comment further.

Thank you @slightlybrownbanana

@slightybrownbanana why would you not have music on during a suspicious death PM?

In books I often read of the detective wanting an autopsy fast tracked. Does this happen in real life?

Slightly odd question ! My Dad died seven years ago. We donated some of his body for research into the disease that killed him.
He was trying to work out his family history, and had the dna tests that are common now been available, he would have wanted to be tested.
Could I get dna from his remains do you think?

This is a fascinating thread, thank you.

What is the rarest cause of death you have come across?

This is fascinating. Thank you for the work you do.