Dog Evals: Book Review: (OT) Working Stiff (forensic pathologist, medical examiner)

Working Stiff: Two Years, 262 Bodies, and the Making of a Medical Examiner, by Judy Melinek and TJ Mitchell (Scribner, 2014, 258 pages, $25)

Have you read Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers? Or sort of wanted to read it? Author Mary Roach* has written several lively books about rather dead subjects like Stiff (2004). She is such the gifted writer that she could even make the dictionary palatable!

Perhaps you’ve read one or all of the 24 Patricia Cornwall Kay Scarpetta, Medical Examiner, novels set in Richmond, Virginia? Do you watch Bones*? Have you read Kathy Reichs**?

In the vein of Stiff and mystery novels comes Working Stiff, just as non-put-downable, by Judy Melinek.

The Making of a Medical Examiner

Melinek is so very human in telling her story of two years (2001-2001) in New York on the way to becoming a board-certified forensic pathologist. She started out as a surgical resident and quickly became exhausted - to the point of exhaustion which could prove fatal for her patients.

Fortunately, she listened to her body, her husband and those who had previously offered her a different specialty – and it worked! Melinek became a happy doctor with time for her family plus the inborn excitement to solve medical-criminal problems.

If only more people could discover what she found in life, then we might contribute more to our own happiness and to moving society forward.

After finishing Working Stiff in just a few evenings, I so wanted to read what else Melink had written, but, alas, Working Stiff is it. (At this point, I should probably point out that it was written in conjunction with her husband, a stay-at-home dad and writer.)

What is a Forensic Pathologist?

Forensic pathologists discover why someone died. Usually employed by a county, and also known as medical examiners, they are the death investigators of sudden, violent or unexpected demises.

Working Stiff is a series of cases that are fascinating. Each chapter relates cases of a similar bent – accident or poison, e.g. However, after about a third of the way through, it seems to be just one case after another, filled fortunately with excellent writing. (I would recommend a few fewer cases so the read doesn’t become immune.)

The writing style is fast-paced and human-centered – both on the protagonist and the deceased, as well as on the family, court appearances, and relationships with detectives. A (well-rounded) tale (to keep you in suspense!). The micro-style is varied, from a break in the page to no break at all but just going directly into the next situation – a great method of keeping the reader hooked.

As I mentioned above, I wish the author(s) had written more, but I guess three children keeps a couple busy. I did, however, find the author’s blog, Forensic Pathology Forum.

Listen to Dr. Bones

To whet your appetite for reading, here is a preview you can listen to, an interview with the author, Dr. Judy and an interview you can read about a typical day in the life of a death investigator.

And, yes, she did help out on 911 and the following days and nights.

My father went into dermatology because those patients never die (and they never get better, either!). Dr. Judy has her favorite quotes about being a forensic pathologist, one of which is why it is a good choice for a woman: “There are no emergencies. Your patients never complain. They don’t page you during dinner and they’ll still be dead tomorrow.”

Bonus: the reader will learn about the causes and six manners of death and find out what a forensic anthropologist does – a cleaner occupation, on the whole.

Caveat: although Melinek’s book is not too grisly, it will help your appreciation if you have taken anatomy and physiology or know your bones and muscles. Nurses and others in the medical profession will not be grossed out. Teenage boys will also find the stories fascinating.

Also by Mary Roach:

Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife (2006)