Forensics, Forensics, Forensics

 I have spent the past two weeks in forensics and have grown even more interested in the field. Observing around five post mortems to date, it can be said I am growing accustomed to the graphic nature of these examinations. Although, I found the smell aspect a little difficult to deal with at first, especially when the bowels were opened.  After the last blog entry and only witnessing medical post mortems, I was given the chance to see some forensic cases as well.

It was interesting to note the differences within these types of examinations. First of all, forensic cases are evidently much more thorough and detailed. Various parts of the body are carefully swabbed and everything from undergarments to minuscule fibbers are collected as evidence. Due to the thorough nature of these examinations, forensic post mortems can take up to ten hours. Unlike medical cases, the Welsh Police CSI staff are present and provide their own forensic photographer who takes at least 100 photographs. It was fascinating to see the pathologist predict a cause of death and then support their predicting by finding a tiny defect in an organ. It was amazing that an injury to the heart that is almost unnoticeable to the human eye can result in death. However, in many cases it is not this simple and the brain or toxicology reports need to be examined. I saw a brain dissection this week and was asked to assist the pathologist in organizing placeholders to put different sections of the brain in. I’ve noticed that forensic examinations are a very timely process. For instance, toxicology reports can take up to weeks and the brain needs to be fixed in formaldehyde for at least three weeks just to be examined.  

Mark, the forensic photographer assigned me to take pictures of plastered organs--shown below is a ovary tumor and a bowel section with cysts. The first organ image shows a comparison of a "normal" sized ovary represented by the walnut, to a ovary that has a tumor. I also have been working on a side project for the Anesthetics Muesem here at the hospital. This muesuem displays a collection of historical medical equipment and illustrates how the technology of anesthetics has vastly developed throughout the years. I have photographed an old Ether Vaporizer that was used for surgical anesthesia procedures around 50 years ago. I have also put together a video of the subject that shows a 360 degree view, so every element of the Ether Vaporizer is illustrated. In the next few days, I will be doing mentoring in the video department. 

 

Settling In

As I have already been working at the hospital for nearly a month now, I have settled in Cardiff and my job at the hospital very smoothly. Lately, I have been spending much of my time working in the dental department and assisting in photographing patients in various wards. At first, the wards were slightly shocking and sometimes even grim, as illustrated in the trauma clinic where patients are usually completely unresponsive to stimuli. However, I am growing accustomed to the conditions I've witnessed which is paired a sense of normalcy.

Recently, I have been working on many sub-projects in which have produced portfolio worthy images. An interesting assignment included photographing the assistance of dental nurses for the hospital's online website for prospective students. During a forum for the hospital's information technology services, a statistic noted that the youth of Wales are rated to have the worst oral health in all of the United Kingdom and the importance of dental nurses was exemplified. The main focus was solely on the nurses working on every day tasks from assisting dentists to preparing dental molds to illustrate their fast-paced occupation.

I have also spend my first day with Mark, the hospital's forensic photographer and was given a overview and orientation of the entire department. With the faint smell of formaldehyde, I was shown the forensic imaging equipment, microscopes, and the autopsy examination rooms. Also, I watched video Mark captured of a post mortem examination in which the deceased body was severely decayed and covered from head to toe in maggots. Tomorrow, I will attend a full autopsy and with the anticipating killing me, I cannot be more excited!

 

 

I also photographed a human lower jawbone (disambiguation) section in the dental studio

Highly specialized dental x-ray imaging equipment

A broken scalpel stained blood, which was requested to be photographed for a client in the hospital.

Outside of the hospital, I have also been spending time with co-workers and continuing to explore all of what Cardiff has to offer. This past weekend, I toured Cardiff Castle on a beautiful (rare) afternoon in Wales and enjoyed the breathtaking scenery.