Best and Worst Things?

[EmiliaCHEER]

What are the best and worst things, in your opinion, about working as a Pathologist/Forensic Pathologist?

Emilia xx

[VillageVicar]

Whilst I don�t work in that profession. My own profession has me working closely with forensic pathologists, funeral directors and the deceased. Consequently, I also have close friendships with those in this profession.

In many ways the body is a roadmap. I am able to resolve issues related to a human form being before me, regardless of its state. However, time and time again, I have found that the memory picture I have of some young people has been haunting for me.

From a strictly scientific perspective, I also have been thrown off by the mixed slightly sweet of the cranial cavity as it is first revealed through autopsy. I don�t know why this bothers me any more than the variety of other cavity fluids, but it does.

Are you considering joining this profession?

Fr Bill

[EmiliaCHEER]

Thanks for replying :-)
I currently work in a Pathology lab but I'm studying to transfer from Clinical to Anatomic Pathology (or Autopsy Pathology as it's sometimes referred to). I'm thoroughly enjoying it and finding it extremely interesting. I've been told time and time again by different people (including a mentor from the mortuary) that you need to be a "certain type of person" to be able to survive in my chosen profession.

I tend to look past the gore and blood etc and just find it so interesting to be able to find out how a person died and such. It's fascinating. I'm sure there will be times when a certain post postmortem will affect me and, like you, I'm sure there'll be a certain aspect of the work that I won't be so good on.

I've seen a few bodies and unlike my co-worker who was with me for the day in the mortuary, it didn't have the effect on me that I was dreading.

Being only 16, I know I have a lot to learn and even more to see. But I do think I have a good head-start on the process, having been interested in this profession for quite a while now and already having worked in Pathology for the past year and a half has also done wonders for opportunities I keep getting.

I'm due to attend a postmortem in the next few months, do you have any tips for the first one? A lot of people have told me you can be really embarrassing and faint or throw up and such. I'm hoping to avoid that :-)


Emilia
xxxxxxx

[VillageVicar]

Emilia: I believe your interest in pursuing this profession is honourable. Indeed, it can be fascinating.

My own experiences are diverse & from a different perspective than the role you�re pursuing. I am exposed to the cessation of life on a regular basis. It may be in the embracing love of a family where the dying follow a fairly predictable social process, i.e., decedent � mortuary- funerary prep � presentation - disposition. And of course, the other percentage that represent: decedent � coroner query � confirmation � funerary prep � presentation � disposition. These two equations would be, in most circumstances, the norm. And in this context, I would say it�s all quite easy.

Where the circumstances change is when the formula is different. I�ve spent countless hours in Eastern European morgues, either trying to match children�s bodies with photos and sketchy identification details, or handing a few pounds to the morgue attendant to help me bag up the partial or mutilated remains of a child. These are images that remain with me and never leave.

I have no difficulty with fluids or odours, except for burnt flesh. Those are the only instances where I�ve found difficulty with odours.

Finally, I would suggest that it doesn�t matter how seasoned a professional you are, be it from the field of forensic science or from my own. The miracle of the human body � its mechanisms, its layers, and all the intricacies that allow it to house that unique spark, is a journey that that will intrigue and fascinate you to the end of your days.

And who knows, it may inspire you to search deep within yourself to understand the mystery of that nucleus that burns within you.

I wish you well

Fr. Bill