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.