Blue Wolf Reviews

Tag: forensic

  • Autopsies for the Armchair Enthusiast

    Autopsies for the Armchair Enthusiast

    For those of you settling into a summer break and wondering what to read, Autopsies for the Armchair Enthusiast, may not be your first choice but should definitely be one of your choices. Why?

    Well, because whether we like it or not, we have a real fascination with death, whether it be on TV, at the movies, usually not our own, but other peoples and if we are honest really want to know the ins and outs of so much that happens but is seldom discussed, which makes the subject of what happens after we die even more fascinating.

    Dr Meryl Broughton was a country Doctor for most of her years of practice, but always had a fascination with the human body: a fascination that began when her younger sister invited her for a tour of the then Pathology House associated with Royal Perth Hospital in Perth, back in the 1970’s.

    From there, her fascination led her to study more about Pathology than any other aspect of Medicine for a short period of time. Life eventually saw her spending her years in Country Medical practices, which due to distance and often time, came with an option of becoming the ‘Coroner’ or forensic pathologist should a death occur in unusual or unexpected circumstances.

    In Autopsies for the Armchair Enthusiast she shares with respect, some of the many cases she ‘investigated’ for the State Coroner’s office, always impressed at just what the human body can tell, especially after death. She also notes that often what this information also does is allows medical science to understand more fully what happens when death occurs and what has contributed to this result.

    She often marveled, as a person working with both the living and the dead, what may have appeared to have been the obvious cause of death was, so often not. One thing the various cases documented will do though, is make sure you get a health check if you are overdue, maybe change your lifestyle to include more exercise, a better diet and a healthier approach to stress and time management.

    Written with a light touch, the journey through the various aspects of how, why, when and what, is a fascinating read and one that, even though it is dealing with the final, final in life, shows how so much positive can be gained from an autopsy.

  • The Expert Witness Examinations of crimes, drugs and poisons by a forensic toxicologist

    The Expert Witness Examinations of crimes, drugs and poisons by a forensic toxicologist

    The use of illegal drugs and the abuse of prescription drugs frequently leads to misadventure and/or crime. As a forensic toxicologist, Doctor Allender often appears in court, as an expert witness, in cases involving the use of drugs. In his book ‘The Expert Witness’ he discusses prominent cases in which his expertise is required; where the use of drugs and poisons could have played a noticeable part in the circumstances surrounding the events leading to the death of the victim.

    By selecting thirty of his most absorbing cases, the author is able to highlight the value of his expert evidence in court. He briefly recounts the circumstances surrounding the case and by including his detailed toxicology report, provides the reader with added important information. As authors generally do not include a thorough analyses of this report, true crime readers rarely have the opportunity to understand the impact of this expert testimony in solving crimes; but in this book this insight is provided.

    I highly recommend this book to readers who want more than a superficial knowledge of the importance of toxicology in the world of determining cause of death/or guilt or otherwise, of the defendant. Although this book is of the true crime genre, it gives all readers the opportunity to obtain a fascinating insight into the world of drugs and poisons in the perpetration of crime. A synopsis of each case is introduced by an appropriate thought provoking saying by a well-known philosopher/writer, which prepares the reader for what is to come.

  • True Stories from the Morgue

    True Stories from the Morgue

    To most people the nature of the activities which take place in a morgue are generally a mystery. In his book “True Stories from the Morgue” John Merrick provides the reader with an insight into his complex role as a Forensic Counsellor at the Office of the State Coroner in Glebe, Sydney. During his 20 years in this role he has dealt with grieving relatives, coped with mutilated and decomposed bodies and dealt with death on a large scale.

    The role of Forensic Counsellor is a high specialized occupation: the complexity of it normally not understood by the general public. John Merrick’s anecdotal descriptions of cases which form part of his work are realistically and emotively related; they ‘lift the veil’ on the nature of this work. Who can remain dried eyed when reading the experience of the widow who not only lost her husband unexpectedly through a suicide car crash but then lost the next love of her life as the result of a drug overdose before she turned 30?  The account of the perseverance of Ebony Simpson’s mother to obtain justice for her daughter demonstrates the complexity of Mr. Merrick’s job and his willingness to go the extra mile.

    When a loved one dies, those left behind are usually so distressed that they fail to ask for details when an autopsy is scheduled. This book also describes in layman’s terms what happens in an autopsy and at a coronial inquiry. The author explains how it is often the Forensic Counsellor who undertakes the task of clarifying to the bereaved how the autopsy will be undertaken on their loved one.

    This is any easy but an emotional read for those who wish to explore the role of a bereavement counsellor associated with a morgue. Each story leaves the reader not only empathising with the victim but also in awe of the author for his dedication to his job; one which he does with compassion and kindness.