Copyright © 1999 Young Forensic Scientists Forum / American Academy of Forensic Sciences

[Main] [Newsletter] [Resources] [Calendar] [Mentor Program] [Officers & Steering Committee] [Contact]

Young Forensic Scientists Forum

Young Forensic Scientists Forum Newsletter - May 1999

Death Investigator in Training
by Monty Nelson, BA

This fall I had the pleasure of attending the Death Investigators Basic Training Course at the St. Louis University School of Medicine. The course covers everything from the basics of postmortem changes, to how to carry out a death investigation. The course objective is to “increase the investigator’s knowledge of the scientific aspects of death investigation through lectures regarding medical causes of death, investigative techniques and resources available.”

For those unfamiliar with the basics of death investigation and the medicolegal literature, the course could be a bit overwhelming. The amount of information covered during the week is staggering, but the faculty did provide course attendees with plenty of supportive materials to take home and study. The experienced death investigator will find this course to be a useful review, and the basic course is a prerequisite to being able to participate in the St. Louis University’s famous death investigators’ “Masters Course.” Overall, the content was quite good, although some of the presentations could use some improvement, and others were done by videotape, which was a bit disappointing for a course of its reputation.

Something the novice should be aware of when attending any course of this type, is that the methods and practices portrayed may not be the way your professional staff chooses to do it — and that is okay. The important thing is to keep an open mind and think about the tools presented. Take advantage of the variety of your classmates’ backgrounds. Engage in the conversations! You will learn a lot about the nuts and bolts of death investigation from folks who have such experience.

I had a great week in St. Louis. The hotel headquarters was quite nice and attached to a mall where inexpensive meals could be purchased, along with many St. Louis souvenirs.