Postmortem

by Timmermans, Stefan

• ISBN13: 9780226803982
• ISBN10: 0226803988
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2006-06-15
• Publisher: Univ of Chicago Pr

Summary

As elected coroners came to be replaced by medical examiners with scientific training, the American public became fascinated with their work. From the grisly investigations showcased on highly rated television shows like C.S.I. to the bestselling mysteries that revolve around forensic science, medical examiners have never been so visibleor compelling. They, and they alone, solve the riddle of suspicious death and the existential questions that come with it. Why did someone die? Could it have been prevented? Should someone be held accountable? What are the implications of ruling a death a suicide, a homicide, or an accident? Can medical examiners unmask the perfect crime? Postmortem goes deep inside the world of medical examiners to uncover the intricate web of pathological, social, legal, and moral issues in which they operate. Stefan Timmermans spent years in a medical examiner's office, following cases, interviewing examiners, and watching autopsies. While he relates fascinating cases here, he is also more broadly interested in the cultural authority and responsibilities that come with being a medical examiner. Although these professionals attempt to remain objective, medical examiners are nonetheless responsible for evaluating subtle human intentions. Consequently, they may endor startcriminal investigations, issue public health alerts, and even cause financial gain or harm to survivors. How medical examiners speak to the living on behalf of the dead, is Timmermans's subject, revealed here in the day-to-day lives of the examiners themselves.

Author Biography

Stefan Timmermans is professor of sociology at the University of California, Los Angeles. He is the author of two previous books, including Sudden Death and the Myth of CPR.

Table of Contents

Preface and Acknowledgments	vii
Introduction: Brokering Suspicious Deaths	1	(34)
1 Making the Case for Heart Disease	35	(39)
2 The Fifty-One Percent Rule of Suicide	74	(39)
3 Forensic Credibility at the "Nanny Trial"	113	(44)
4 The Perfect Crime	157	(38)
5 A Baby Died. Where Were the Parents?	195	(30)
6 The Organ and Tissue Trade	225	(26)
Conclusion: The Hope of Forensic Authority	251	(24)
Postscript: "How Can You Watch Autopsies?"	275	(8)
Notes	283	(48)
Bibliography	331	(26)
Index	357