Starting a forensic pathology rotation next week

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End of third year, starting a month of forensic pathology next week. Any suggestions for ways I can prep the weekend before? Anything I can do throughout the month to stand out?

Thanks!
 
End of third year, starting a month of forensic pathology next week. Any suggestions for ways I can prep the weekend before? Anything I can do throughout the month to stand out?

Thanks!

If you're planning on going into pathology it would be useful to learn to perform a complete autopsy the ME way (cutting off all the organs) and the medical way (blocks). It's more difficult than it sounds. As far as standing out, maybe volunteer for a decomp if you're comfortable with it. Decomp probably wouldn't be a requirement for a student and if you volunteered, it would definitely make you memorable. ;-)

If you're not going into pathology, do whatever you're comfortable with, be enaged, and enjoy yourself.
 
If you're planning on going into pathology it would be useful to learn to perform a complete autopsy the ME way (cutting off all the organs) and the medical way (blocks). It's more difficult than it sounds. As far as standing out, maybe volunteer for a decomp if you're comfortable with it. Decomp probably wouldn't be a requirement for a student and if you volunteered, it would definitely make you memorable. ;-)

If you're not going into pathology, do whatever you're comfortable with, be enaged, and enjoy yourself.

IMO, volunteering for a decomp shows bad judgement.

The best way to make a good impression is to be on time, be interested, read when you have time, and demonstrate that you are learning. I have seen med students perform an entire evisceration on their own.

You have to ask to do things. People won't assume that you want to pull the organs out. Personally, I would be willing to teach you if you asked, but if you just wanted to stand there I wouldn't care because I can get done faster that way. Again, you have to ask!
 
The best way to make a good impression is to be on time, be interested, read when you have time, and demonstrate that you are learning.

👍

That, and don't complain or act grossed out or ask if you can leave yet.

One would perhaps be appalled at how many residents can't cut and examine a heart adequately or cut and lay out a fresh brain. Forensic pathologists all generally have their quirks, so if you're working with multiple different attendings then be sure to take the time to ask each day what they would like (at least if they allow you to cut, which most of the time they will, but it depends on local issues or the day's cases). Like a student rotation, there usually isn't a lot of high expectations even for pathology residents rotating through forensic path, because they know you don't get much exposure specifically to forensics. But if you tell them you've already done 30+ hospital autopsies they may expect you know the basics of cutting organs, if not necessarily the interpretations they may apply. It's also true that different people eviscerate differently -- I've used both "common" methods (removal en bloc vs organ-by-organ) during residency and in forensic offices, so they're not specific to one system per se. If what they do is new to you, just say so.

Beyond that, during the rotation work on your efficiency. There is usually not a lot of "wasted" motion in forensic pathology, and when there is it typically has a particular purpose (preparing to answer an expected question for family or a lawyer, even if medically you don't think it would be relevant), and speed-without-missing-something becomes a marker.

Edited to add: I didn't notice you're listed as a medical student; I assumed 3rd year meant resident. But that's OK too. If you've never been involved in an autopsy before, say so, and they'll probably have you watch for a few days then, depending on local laws/protocols, may let you cut. Ways to "stand out" in a good way still remain pretty much the same. Show interest and attentiveness, tell them if you are/aren't interested in pathology/forensics and they'll often tailor what they teach you (in a good way, IMO), but try not to be so bubbly that you're annoying and in the way.
 
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Yes, third yr student. And I am definitely interested in forensic pathology. Thanks for the advice!
 
Yes, third yr student. And I am definitely interested in forensic pathology. Thanks for the advice!

if you have a real interest you might consider supplementing the rotation with DiMaio and DiMaio's Forensic Pathology text, not too expensive, or Spitz and Fisher (more expensive). you can easilly read thru either one during a rotation.
 
The little DiMaio book is a pretty fair overview (not the dedicated gunshot book, which is also good, but the general forensic path book). But if I could only have had one book as an interested student, resident, or fellow it would probably be Dolinak -- much better images and a much easier read than Spitz & Fisher, though S & F generally has more detail and depth.

If they don't let you cut, don't be too sad. More and more it's difficult for office's to do so for legal and/or standards related reasons, even with "straightforward" cases with the pathologist standing over your shoulder. You should still get to see and learn quite a lot. You might also want to ask about going to a scene later in the rotation -- I did this and it so happened that the first death scene I attended was a very interesting autoerotic.
 
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Based on mine, there's a possibility you may help with the eviscerations-- but as mentioned legally there's a lot of regulation, so don't feel bad if it doesn't happen as much as you'd like it to.
 
I agree that the Dolinak book is great. There are great pictures and everything is presented in the context of case presentations. Instead of buying a book now, see if you can check it out from the library or ask one of the forensic pathologists if you can look through their personal copy.

As far as the rotation goes, no one expects you to know any forensics. We don't even expect pathology residents to know any/much forensics. Just be interested and ask questions. If you let them know that you have an interest in forensics, most people will go out of their way to show you things. We get so many people rotate that could care less and want to leave as soon as possible, that I don't go out of my way to show them things unless they express an interest. As others have said, it is usually possible to go on a few scene investigations and check out the crime lab and toxicology lab.

Use the experience to see some interesting pathology and interesting cases and enjoy.
 
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