I want to be a forensic pathologist eventually but for now, what jobs can I get with an associates degree in science? Preferably one that works with or about dead people but even just anything relate to the field.

I’m very interested in pursuing this career but I’d like to see an average day before I commit

I'm an FP technician, it's Friday evening here and I can't ask the paths.

We usually only photograph it for self-inflicted cases but I see it's always checked on external examination.

What would a tear indicate to a pathologist? And what physically can cause it?

Thanks!

I am seeking advice in regards to a high profile case involving a female who was located deceased in a “Clandestine Grave” with obvious characteristics of murder. The M.E. was given witness testimony and he was observed by detectives doing the autopsy. The body is photographed and marked but the report doesn’t match the photos. ◦ Her clothes are removed and photographed but are oddly clean to found in red clay dirt. These clothes were not even processed by Dept of Forensics ◦ There is severely swollen eye and bruising covering her face. Her body is covered in bruises and suspicious imprints on her face ◦ The ME said he couldn’t clip her fingernails bc they had been cut down to her nail beds. This was not done by the ME and there is no way she could have done that to herself ◦ The date of death was recorded to have happened 13 days before her body was recovered but she has minimal decomposition. ◦ A second autopsy performed found she could not have been deceased more than 1-3 days prior to being buried and 6 days was the absolute maximum amount of days ◦ The hole was 2’x3’x2’ and net body was in the fetal position with her back facing up. Her head was at the highest level and angled upward ◦ Wrapped in 2 sheets, Both tied at each end. These sheets were not sent for forensic testing ◦ She had been redressed but messily ◦ The rape kit was sent out but no one admitted to seeing the results. Her death was classified before those results even came back. After obtaining a copy of those results, there was blood located in all 3 cavities. ( The people who admittedly had her were convicted sex offenders and violent to say the least) ◦ Her toxicology results came back with disclaimers saying the results are not to be used for forensic purposes. The Dr had to sign a waiver saying her blood was grossly coagulated and the results would be wrong. The Dr signed that release. ◦ The witness statements ended up coming from the people that were with her & 5 years later, there has been ever changing stories. The ME was going off of information that ended up to not be true, at no fault of his own ◦ No one contacted the family regarding prescriptions she was taking, she was prescribed Wellbutrin ◦ This death was ruled an “Accidental Overdose” Meth & Morphine Toxicity

Her body was exhumed this year and a second autopsy was performed. Unfortunately, because the death is classified accidental, there is nothing LE will do to investigate this case. Is there any advice or recommendations on how to ask the ME to revisit his findings??? There are a lot of parts to this case and we really do not want to come across to the ME as accusatory or disrespectful. Please, any help would be appreciated.

Just want to note, we have received all official autopsy photos

I never thought I’d be posting here, but I need help. My 33-year old brother was found unresponsive last Sunday, 10/27, sitting upright in his recliner at the assisted living facility/group home where he resided. He saw my mom two days prior and wasn’t feeling well, but the caretakers at the home said he was acting normal and getting better. We were told he got up on Sunday morning, ate breakfast, showered, and went to relax in his chair around 10:30 AM. They called him for lunch at about 12/12:30 PM, and he didn’t come out, which wasn’t abnormal. But after an hour or so went by, they went to check on him and found him at about 2 PM. That’s the time of the 911 call.

EMTs came and attempted CPR. EMTs apparently told the residents that they got a pulse and were taking him to the ER. They attempted to revive him at the ER, but minutes after he arrived, he was pronounced dead.

My mom said that he felt cold soon after he was pronounced dead at the ER, had a nosebleed while she was sitting with his body, and was starting to develop rigor mortis and mottled skin by the time she left the hospital three hours later.

My brother was overweight (5’4 and 300 lbs), but only 33. His death was unattended. However they did not recommend an autopsy and insisted he passed of natural causes. The medical examiner reviewed his records and released him to the funeral home a day later.

However, today, I was told that his primary care doctor needed more information regarding what happened and was questioning “natural causes” due to my brother’s age. He had no chronic or diagnosed conditions except for sleep apnea. Did not drink or use substances, and was not suicidal. I think they neglected to investigate because of his size. My mom was too bereft to question it and trusted the word of the caretakers at the home. He also looked totally relaxed as though he passed in his sleep. No signs of any distress.

However, I’m in a state of panic about what actually happened to him.

It’s been 10 days since his passing. Can cause of death be determined? Can they determine if it was sleep apnea, aneurysm, cardiac arrest, or something else? Can they still ascertain his actual time of death? If he was cold moments after his declared time of death in the ER, what was the actual timeline? Something isn’t adding up. We need answers, and I need your help. I appreciate any insight anyone here can provide.

Thank you.

I used to be obsessed with a show called medium. Its entirely ridiculous and none of it is really based in any type of reality, but it's fun to watch if you like supernatural stuff and drama. But i digress.

One of the episodes, s6e2 titled 'Pain Killer' showed a doctor using insulin to play god. He would look at the charts of a crashing patient, inspect their chart, and consider the "facys of their life" to determine if he thought they deserved to live. If he decided they did not, he would inject a lethal amount of insulin into their I.V.

The autopsy almost always said "sudden respiratory arrest", but he gave it to one person orally and they had a heart attack.

My question is, how realistic are the medical and biological depictions in this episode? I know that insulin is not well or easily detected for long post moetum even in an autopsy unless they know to look for it, and I know that injecting too much insulin can lead to sudden brain death, coma, srtokes, and more.

But how realistic is the oral ingestion of an overdose of insulin in a person's cranberry juice to manifest in completely different manner of death than when it is injected into a central line, and how likely is it that a skilled psychopathic doctor would be to be able to accurately predict the way his victim would die?

I've been thinking about this since like 2009. Please, someone answer this for me. I know it sounds silly, but i find medicine facinating even though I have only the knowledge I've picked up from being chronically ill.

Out of curiosity are you always with law enforcement or a death investigator when you go visit scenes?

Hey yall! Im at that age where its good to start considering jobs, and forensic pathology has been at the top of my list for a while now. Ive always been into medicine, law, and all sorts, but was terrified of becoming a surgeon in fear of making a mistake and killing someone, so forensic pathology seemed like the perfect job for me.

But, Im worried, im terrified that im gonna feel queasy or sick while on the job for my first couple of times. I can handle gore in movies and gross smells but ive never seen a body irl.

So I guess my questions are, Did you feel sick seeing/smelling dead people for the first time? How did you get over it? Is there anything I should be doing now to prepare myself?

If a person has died and their body was not found for 24 hours, it then was another 3 days before the body was taken away to be cool stored. Samples were collected most likely on the 4th day after death. Urine sample was the only collected sample due to issues with collecting blood.
Tox report found only alcohol ( high to moderate) and low levels of paracetamol present. Person was a known medical cannabis oil user of both CBD oil daily and also occasional use of medical THC oil. THC use was only new ( within a 6 week timeframe of possible usage and no prior history of THC Use) Person was male, weight 70kg, age 49. My question is would THC no longer be detectable in the urine sample given it was infrequent, low dose medical usage only? It is assumed that THC was taken by the person 24 hours before death. Thankyou to anyone who can provide some advice on this.

Hi everyone, apologies if this is inappropriate and please delete if so.

Short version: I'm an Australian PGY3/FY3 equivalent lucky enough to be having the rest of the year off clinical work after finishing the DTMH in Liverpool. Thinking more and more about the possibility of attempting to pursue (eventually, long road ahead) forensic pathology and eager to get as much exposure to the field as I can to help inform that decision. I'm planning on staying in UK/Europe until the start of the next Australian clinical year in Jan 2025 and was wondering if anyone was aware of forensic pathology services that could offer informal short term placements/attachments/shadowing for interested junior doctors in the meantime. I know the extra sensitive nature of the work and legal implications might make this impossible but thought it's worth asking here in addition to sending direct inquiries to a few contact emails I've found online. More than happy to receive PMs and can provide further information if it would help but willing to travel wherever an opportunity may present itself (I figure UK/Ireland is my best bet given established recognition of training relationships and the whole English language thing 😅). Thanks so much for your help!

How long after death is alcohol detectable? And other questions

My brother was found dead last Thursday. Based on when people talked to him last and activity on his phone and stuff it seems like it would have been 4-5 days. His body had postmortem changes that made it where he was not recognizable and they had to use fingerprints and stuff to identify him for sure.

He was a severe alcoholic and had been diagnosed with end-stage liver failure, and cirrhosis nearly 4 years ago. He also had esophageal varices that had ruptured on more than one occasion and he almost bled to death a couple times. But he’s also had instances of seizures and poisoning from it and all kinds of different things.

I know his death for sure had something to do with his alcohol abuse, but I’m just wondering how much they could tell since his body was in not great shape to know what was the final straw. The medical examiner investigator said they had done an external examination and took some “samples” and that they were aware of his medical history.

The medical examiners office said that for now his cause of death is “pending” until some things come back.

My question is, would they know his blood alcohol Content like to know if it was alcohol poisoning or would that degrade after some days? Could they also tell if he had bled to death from a rupture of one of those blood vessels? What about if he asphyxiated on vomit? Are these things easily determinable? If he’s just some guy and not someone important, are they really gonna try very hard to determine what exactly it was in the end or he’s just some drunk and he died.

My parents and I just really want to know what it finally was in the end. Sadly one of the last things he did was DoorDash vodka the day we think he died. He was 45 😔

I hope this is appropriate for this forum but if not, where could I ask those questions because Google has not been all that helpful.

Hello Friends! I'm a third year med student and really looking forward to pursuing pathology and forensics in residency.This year I have two upcoming electives at my local ME offices. I also have an open primary care selective rotation I need to fill (either emergency medicine, surgery, family med, internal med, obgyn, psych or peds).

I may be overthinking it, but which of those options would be most helpful for a forensic pathology bound student? For next year too I will obviously be hoping to do more rotations in pathology, but which other specialties do you feel having exposure in has helped you in practice?

Thanks in advance!

Hi, I have results from my wife’s toxicology results from her autopsy, and have questions about results. I am willing to pay someone for their time. Thanks!

Is this specific to FP or for all subspecialty boards?

WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK?!

Yes, I already read the one thing I know that it doesn't matter that much what you major in as long as you get good grades and take classes to help prepare for medical school, I'm just curious what most forensic pathologist majored in, when they went to college.

TL;DR: I’m a high school senior seeking a mentor in forensic pathology for a five-month independent study. I’ve faced challenges finding a mentor due to ethical concerns and workload issues among professionals. I’m considering various project ideas, including a crime scene diorama, a VR cadaver simulation, an AI analysis tool, or a short novel about a forensic pathologist. If you or someone you know can help, please reach out. I'm also open to related fields like forensic toxicology and CSI. Thank you!

Hello! As the title says, I’m currently looking for someone who would be willing to let me learn about their career field for a period of five months for an independent study on forensic pathology.

For context, I am a high school senior enrolled in an Independent Study Mentorship class, with my chosen field of interest being forensic pathology. Like many people drawn to forensic science, my interest stems from a love for crime fiction. While I understand that the reality of this profession differs from its fictional representations, I am eager to explore how it aligns with my research and interests.

The independent study class requires students to reach out to local professionals in their career field of interest over the summer to secure a mentor before the school year starts. As it turns out, finding a mentor in this field has its own challenges, as I have been turned away by forensic pathologists I contacted (those local, out-of-state, and even out of the country) mostly due to ethical reasons and high workloads stemming from understaffing at their offices. I totally understand this, of course, as the nature of the work is precarious and delicate, not to mention the profession is currently facing a shortage. Still, while it is to be expected, it’s disheartening, as I am genuinely invested in learning more about this career field and whether it’s something I might consider for the future. My teacher will allow me to remain in the class even if I don’t secure a mentor, but she says I won’t have the full experience that the class has to offer. The end goal of our class is to create a final product that serves a real-world purpose for our specific field of study by April of next year.

I am currently considering the following possible end products for my study (though I am open to other ideas and suggestions):

• A diorama of a modern-day crime scene that could be used for educational purposes, similar to Frances Glessner Lee's Nutshell Studies, which are miniature but hyper-realistic reconstructions of past crime scenes.
• A VR simulation of a customizable cadaver model that allows for the addition or removal of various organs and injuries. This could be used for teaching about specific forensic pathologies, such as trauma assessment, disease progression, or anatomical variations. (This might be the hardest to conceive and least likely to happen, but it’s still interesting to think about.)
• An AI-powered case analysis tool that can analyze forensic data, case files, and historical crime statistics to identify patterns or potential leads, which could assist investigators and medical examiners in solving complex cases. (Basically a Sherlockian ChatGPT)
• A short novel detailing the work of a forensic pathologist who becomes embroiled in a mystery when a series of unusual autopsies reveal a rare condition suggesting the individuals might have been alive long after they were declared dead. (A reality-grounded fantasy story.)

As such, I am reaching out to Reddit as a last resort. If you are someone (or know someone) willing to let a student pick their brain (figuratively, of course) and assist them in the creation of a forensic-oriented product, please get in touch for further details and a possible interview. While I did mention my interest in forensic pathology, I am also open to those of you working in related fields, such as forensic toxicology and CSI, as your roles are equally important and fascinating.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, Forensic Redditors!

Hello all,

I was wondering if you could answer my question regarding a certain scenario. Say a decomposed body is found (like let's say 2 years or so) and foul play is suspected. Would a toxicology still be possible to perform on the body? This is like a body that was just buried in the ground-no embalming or being placed in a coffin whatsoever.

Hi, I’m a 14 year old Male turning 15 from Scotland and I’ve always been interested in forensic science but i now that I’ve come to the more serious level of my high school education I’ve decided I should figure out what exactly I need to become a forensic medical examiner or something in a similar job style. I would be interested in working in the police side of forensics. If anyone could tell me what subjects I should focus on and what I would need to study after high school it would be much appreciated. Thank you.

My dream has always been to become a forensic pathologist (in the uk) however, the pathway seems to be very competitive, and I’m scared of going through all of med school + foundation training just to not be able to get into specialty training and essentially get stuck.

Essentially, how hard is it actually to become a forensic pathologist, and what are some other careers that are similar/I could get into if this doesn’t work out?

What have you seen or experienced that was an immediate red flag or a no-no situation. (A case, something another medical examiner said, or treatment from others)

Hello, so i am currently a freshman in college and am only doing my general education right now. I think i want to major in biology and possibly get a archaeology certificate to eventually become a autopsy tech. I know that jobs prefer you to have experience in this area and i was wondering if anyone had any good recommendations for entry level jobs i could look for that would give me good experience as a autopsy tech. I have gone through emt school and i dont mind handling or working with dead bodies so anything that doesn’t require you to have a big backround would work for me! EDIT: If it helps i am in southern california 😊

A loved one recently died of a drug overdose dose and i am trying to determine how high the blood concentration levels are considered to be. Any input is appreciated. thank you!

Current NP fellow here. Applying for FP fellowship for 2026. Hoping to stay on the east coast. Any recommendations? Where should I avoid? Tell me the gossip!!

Hello, just wondering if anyone knows any like realistic shows in forensic pathology. Really interested in this! Just want to watch something in my free time! Thanks

I am a very new autopsy technician (forensic technician) and so far have done a few bodies, I need some advice though. I am struggling with a few things and I feel as if I am failing. I know I am not going to be great the first few go arounds, as I've only done 3 autopsy's since I started a week ago, but my trainer seems annoyed at me that I keep asking questions or not understanding quickly. My general question for all you techs out there, how long did it take for you to finally "get it" and make easy cuts and understand it all? And also any advice you have for me being new or things you wish you would have known to start.

I appreciate all the advice in advanced.

I'm a high school senior and I have been talking to a forensic pathologist resident about some questions I have and I want to get more opinions on what ti major in college for to help me better in medical school/becoming a forensic pathologist.

Fiction writer here. I've been asked to ghost write a piece which features a corpse (adult female) that has been buried wrapped in plastic bin bags in temperate conditions and is then found 8 days later. What would the physical presentation be?

Happy to be pointed towards other resources

I request and pay for a lot of public ME autopsy reports. Can the public or family see who is requesting the public reports or do I remain anonymous as it's public record?