Unnatural Death

by BADEN, MICHAEL M. DR

• ISBN13: 9780804105996
• ISBN10: 0804105995
• Edition: Reprint
• Format: Trade Book
• Copyright: 1990-03-28
• Publisher: Ballantine Books

Summary

* JFK's autopsy failed to disclose crucial evidence. * The deaths of John Belushi and Elvis Presley were far more complex than anyone has let on. * Decisive medical findings in the von Bulow affair were consistently overlooked. These are but three of the shocking revelations in Dr. Michael Baden's first-person, no-holds-barred account of his distinguished career in forensic pathology. In determining the causes of tens of thousands of deaths, from those of presidents and rock stars to victims of serial killings, exotic sex rituals, mass disasters, child abuse and drug abuse, Baden has come to the unavoidable conclusion that the search for scientific truth is often sullied by the pressures of expediency. He produces dramatic evidence to demonstrate that political intrigue, influence peddling, and professional incompetence have created a national crisis in forensic medicine. "A fascinating look into the mechanics of forensics and a disconcerting lesson in the politics of death." -- The New York Times Book Review

Table of Contents

Introduction	ix
Heroes and Conspiracies	1	(22)
The Price of Fame
The Education of a Medical Examiner	23	(10)
Life and Death, Uptown and Downtown
Autopsy	33	(15)
Anatomy and Destiny
History	48	(10)
From Taxman to Medical Examiner
Manhattan Postmortem	58	(19)
City Politics
Earthly Remains	77	(13)
Identifying the Dead
MIAs
Airline Crash
Algae Lady
Floater
Hair
Time of Death	90	(20)
Biological Clocks
John Belushi---Drug Overdose
Pinchos Jaroslawicz---Stone Cold
David Hendricks---The Pizza Connection
Crazy Quilt	110	(30)
Multiple Murders
Mary Beth Tinning---Where Have All the Children Gone?
Joe Christopher---The Buffalo Slasher
Richard Kuklinski---The Ice Man
Almost Perfect	140	(25)
Without a Trace
Catherine Fried---Burking
Carl Coppolino---Succinylcholine
Dr. X---Curare
Close Calls	165	(22)
Accidental Death
Whitney Young---Nigerian Drowning
Dr. Josephine Wells Brown---Frightened to Death
Daphne Mellon---Youthful Indiscretion
S&M---Careless Love
Diagnostic Follies	187	(20)
Natural Endings
Leonard Barco---Ordeal by Error
Claus von Bulow---Was It Insulin?
Attica	207	(10)
Who Did It?
Index	217