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.

Does doing a post mortem make you crave meat to eat?

Watching Killing Eve & that was mentioned.

Wow what a fascinating thread. Am really enjoying it, thank you so much op.
I have no questions at the moment but everyone’s comments and questions and your answers are fascinating

@slightlybrownbanana

Having an enlarged heart is a risk factor for sudden death via a cardiac arrhythmia (disturbance of the electrical conduction through the heart muscle.

Can I ask, can your heart be a normal size and then get larger? Can it go back to normal after it has been enlarged?

Do you get frustrated if there doesn't seem to be a solid answer to why someone has died? In particular someone who was young, fit and healthy.

Instead all the organs go into a bag in the torso and the skull is packed with wadding.

Woaaah I had absolutely no idea this happened!! Do relatives always get told this or only if asked?

I've not been close to anyone having a PM so just naively assumed every organ would go back to its original place

I've not been close to anyone having a PM so just naively assumed every organ would go back to its original place

Like the 3D teaching models of the internal organs or pregnancy bumps?

Fascinating thread, and some really good questions!

You've already answered a couple that I had. I don't have the yen to do your job or anything. One shocker for me was you being female! Ive no idea why as I followed one of the american FPs when investigating more complex cases trying to establish causes which conflicted with first impressions.

Anyway, I wondered what tell-tale signs you get when someone dies of cold? I have wondered this in cases of sids particularly.

What makes a particularly good story for you in terms of your cases?

Also, last ask, how long before you wouldn't open the cranium because the brain will be jelly? (I've seen too much!)

TIA

Are you coming back @slightlybrownbanana ?

Excellent AMA SlightlyBrownBanana

Bit of a random question perhaps, but is there any particular quality that makes for a helpful/efficient APT in your experience?

Thank you

Hi op,

Great thread!

If you weren't a forensic pathologist, what would you be?

Loving this op
Thanks

Would your prefer to be buried or cremated?

I lean towards cremation because I hate the idea of decomposing.

Have you ever appeared in documentaries?

No, but I have advised on the set of a drama regarding mortuary scenes (not that they really took on board what I said) which was fun.

Do you rinse a suspected murder victim’s nose for pollen?

I've never done that nor have I ever seen it done by a colleague.

I'm currently a mature student studying criminology with Forensic Science. I love the nitty gritty side to it and feel I am swaying more to forensics. What sort of jobs could I look to be going for when I graduate? I'd be so happy with lab work but would love crime scene work too. Do you think my degree could help get a foot in the door?

Sorry I don't know anything about career pathways into forensic science only forensic pathology. Good luck though.

Does doing a post mortem make you crave meat to eat?

I'm generally hungry from being on my feet for hours but don't have specific meat cravings. Having said that bodies from fires can smell like barbecued pork which is disturbingly appetising.

Can I ask, can your heart be a normal size and then get larger? Can it go back to normal after it has been enlarged?

Most cases of cardiac enlargement are caused by high blood pressure but there are lots of other causes including heart valve problems. Once enlarged it does not return to normal size. A heart shouldn't really weigh over about 500g but I've seen hearts over 1kg before.

Do you get frustrated if there doesn't seem to be a solid answer to why someone has died? In particular someone who was young, fit and healthy.

Yes it can be frustrating and I don't like to give 'unascertained' as a cause of death but in some cases I have no choice. In a young fit person who has suddenly died and a totally negative PM it is likely a cardiac problem which may be inherited, so I encourage genetic screening for close relatives.

In your ordinary life away from work is there anything that turns your stomach? I mean something like toenails being let around or cat shit in the garden?

Anyway, I wondered what tell-tale signs you get when someone dies of cold? I have wondered this in cases of sids particularly.

Signs of hypothermia in an adult include reddening over the major joints externally (elbows, knees, hips), Wischnewski spots on the gastric mucosa (look like black spots on the stomach lining) and, potentially, haemorrhagic pancreatitis. But other causes of death must be ruled out first and it has to fit the circumstances. I don't know if these features apply in babies, but I doubt they do.

What makes a particularly good story for you in terms of your cases?

Weird and wonderful stuff, the sort of "couldn't make it up" moments and I love a good family drama in the background.

how long before you wouldn't open the cranium because the brain will be jelly? (I've seen too much!)

We open the head in all cases, even when you know it's going to be like manky porridge in there. I once had a decomposed body and his entire brain was replaced with a mass of dead maggots - delightful. They will have got in to the skull through his nose or ears.

is there any particular quality that makes for a helpful/efficient APT in your experience?

I think just being fast but skilled and being able to anticipate what the pathologist needs. I have great admiration for the work of APTs, it's a tough job, underpaid and frequently overlooked. Plus some of my best friends do the job which makes going to work fun.

just got g back to your original post. I thought we used the words post mortem and murder not autopsy and homicide.
when did these terms change and why??

If you weren't a forensic pathologist, what would you be?

That's tricky but something I have considered (especially when trying to get through the exams) and I don't think I could be any other type of doctor. Perhaps a medicolegal adviser at a defence union or a lawyer, but those jobs lack the practical skills I get to use currently. In essence I think my job is the best in the world and I hope to keep doing it until retirement many years in the future.

Would your prefer to be buried or cremated?

Definitely cremated; no point taking up space on an already overcrowded planet.

In your ordinary life away from work is there anything that turns your stomach?

I hate slugs! I find their very existence disgusts me for some reason. I don't do well with lingering poo smells on my hands after washing either (I mean from dealing with my children, I double glove at work) so I keep exfoliating scrub washes handy.