Bruce Goldfarb

Quite an interesting history of the development of professional forensic science at Harvard University. The creation of a legal medicine department and the leadership of Frances Glessner Lee in making it happen was fascinating. It did leave me with rather a bad taste in my mouth about Harvard, who neglected to pay the prof in the department for years, and fought Lee all the time until she threatened to take away her huge bequests.
Still, Lee soldiered on.
The 18 tiny deaths are those depicted in dioramas for students- made to exacting specifications almost to an absurd level by Lee (and thousands of dollars). While one is impressed by her enthusiasm, it is patently obvious she would have gotten nowhere without the family millions.
This is also obvious from the fact that non-medical, non-legal, non-professional coroners are still in charge of investigating suspicious deaths in many many states. Political appointees instead are given the right to evaluate the dead, because, hey, how could that process ever be unfair, bigoted, or subject to fraud? Except that it has been for years.
This is an important read, both for the shocking realization that these political coroners still exist(some of what they have done in the past is detailed in this book), and for the slightly opened window on a remarkable woman’s life. I yearned for more about her.… (meer)

OCME (Office of the Chief Medical Examiner) in Maryland is one of the most respected facilities. They have a state of the art technology system, custom autopsy rooms, filtration system, and the ability to convert their parking garage into an emergency storage facility. I found this book quite interesting. I had no idea what went on behind the scenes. It's not a book about the process of autopsies, but it's more of the day to day operations. You find out that the atmosphere is very political, not only with the government itself but also with the media and within its own walls. A few interesting cases were discussed to show the effects on family and the political side. Due to a new CME and the result of lacking experienced examiners, the image of the OCME decreased greatly with over 250 backlogged decedents. The facility is slowly working its way back to the top now, but it will take a long time to get back to where they were. I would have given it 5 stars, but it had the longest prologue I've ever seen.… (meer)

journalist, forensics, forensic-pathology, opioid-crisis, madical-examiner, death-investigation, forensic-science, true-crime, real-horror, nonfiction*****

I was interested in the history of medical examiners and coroners in the beginning chapters, but it was the work of the pathologists, medical examiners, and the rise in the opioid epidemic and the way it has debilitated our systems. I had worked ER, acute care, long term care, trauma rehab, and as an RN in a county jail, so I am not without understanding of the problems (especially BUDGET CUTS). Milwaukee isn't Baltimore, but our ME reached the point of no return with an insane caseload and just walked away.
This book was very well written, especially for those of us who are close to the line
I requested and received a free e-book copy from Steerforth Press via NetGalley. Thank you!… (meer)