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Loading... OCME: Life in America's Top Forensic Medical Centerby Bruce Goldfarb
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Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book. No current Talk conversations about this book. OCME (Office of the Chief Medical Examiner) in Maryland is one of the most respected facilities. They have a state of the art technology system, custom autopsy rooms, filtration system, and the ability to convert their parking garage into an emergency storage facility. I found this book quite interesting. I had no idea what went on behind the scenes. It's not a book about the process of autopsies, but it's more of the day to day operations. You find out that the atmosphere is very political, not only with the government itself but also with the media and within its own walls. A few interesting cases were discussed to show the effects on family and the political side. Due to a new CME and the result of lacking experienced examiners, the image of the OCME decreased greatly with over 250 backlogged decedents. The facility is slowly working its way back to the top now, but it will take a long time to get back to where they were. I would have given it 5 stars, but it had the longest prologue I've ever seen. ( ) journalist, forensics, forensic-pathology, opioid-crisis, madical-examiner, death-investigation, forensic-science, true-crime, real-horror, nonfiction***** I was interested in the history of medical examiners and coroners in the beginning chapters, but it was the work of the pathologists, medical examiners, and the rise in the opioid epidemic and the way it has debilitated our systems. I had worked ER, acute care, long term care, trauma rehab, and as an RN in a county jail, so I am not without understanding of the problems (especially BUDGET CUTS). Milwaukee isn't Baltimore, but our ME reached the point of no return with an insane caseload and just walked away. This book was very well written, especially for those of us who are close to the line I requested and received a free e-book copy from Steerforth Press via NetGalley. Thank you! no reviews | add a review
Distinctions
Biography & Autobiography.
Medical.
Sociology.
Nonfiction.
HTML:"Gripping . . . a brilliant insider's view." â?? Kirkus Reviews (starred review) Go behind the scenes inside the nation's preeminent Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, where good people fight the good fight amid the tragedies and absurdities of our age Perfect for fans of Michael Lewis and David Simon (Homicide, The Corner, The Wire, We Own This City) Real life is different from what gets depicted on procedural crime dramas. Equipped with a journalistâ??s eye, a paramedicâ??s experience and a sardonic wit, Bruce Goldfarb spent ten years with Marylandâ??s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, where every sudden or unattended death in the state is scrutinized. Touching on numerous scandals, including Derek Chauvin's trial for the murder of George Floyd and the tragic killing in police custody of Freddie Gray, Goldfarb pulls back the curtain on a pioneer institution in crisis. Medical examiners and the investigators and technicians who support them play vital roles in the justice and public health systems of every American community. During Goldfarbâ??s time with the Maryland OCME, opioid-related deaths contributed to a significant increase in their workload. Faced with a chronic shortage of qualified experts and inadequate funding, their important and fascinating work has become more challenging than most people could ever imagine. The public gets a skewed view of the relationship between police and medical examiners from procedural crime dramas, Bruce Goldfarb writes of his work inside one of America's most storied forensic centers. We arenâ??t on the same team . . . We arenâ??t on any team. The medical examinerâ??s sole duty is to the deceased person. We speak for the dead. â?? Praise for Bruce Goldfarb's 18 Tiny Deaths "An engrossing and accessible chronicle of . . . the early years of scientific detection." â?? The Wall Street Journal "Devotees of TV's CSI will have their minds blown." â?? Publis No library descriptions found. |
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Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)614.109752Technology Medicine and health Public Health Registration and vital statisticsLC ClassificationRatingAverage:
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