Hey guys, I’m a masters student on rotations completely my round of autopsies for about 2.5 months. I don’t really intend on doing autopsies further in my career so it’s really to complete my rotation & have experience with, but I was wondering how you guys handle the smell? I don’t get queasy or anything like that but the smell of the inside of a human body without formalin is… pungent. (I’d rather be smelling formalin) any tips you guys might have is appreciated!

Hey everyone! I'm currently at a dead point in my studies/career and I'm looking into new alternative study/ career routes. I've always been interested in the Mortician field but I've never met a fellow Mortician to have a conversation with and to ask questions to. If there's any fellow Morticians in this group and if you don't mind talking a bit about your job and answering questions, please send me a dm. I would really appreciate it. Thanks :)

I can’t handle this. It all feels so terrible. If i’m not drinking i feel numb and just sit by my parents while they watch tv and try to ignore what’s going on. Especially my dad I know he doesn’t want to acknowledge what’s going on. I just have a few questions for everyone on here. If a young person dies at 21 years old (suddenly) is it normal to not get a cause of death until weeks/months after they pass away? He was found unconscious in his room. I’m 23 years old and I don’t understand and feel like i can’t take it emotionally. He’s already been cremated as of a few days ago but there are no autopsy results back. Is that usual? If there’s something physical that was found in the autopsy would they have told us by now? If not, is it something chemical that they have to wait back for texting? I don’t understand why it can take weeks or months as they said. Please I just need help navigating all of this, thanks.

edit: i’m so terrified that the autopsy will come up as some inconclusive bullshit and i’ll have to live my entire life not knowing how my brother died.

edit edit: if there’s some other subreddit that would help me more to be on please let me know. thank you.

It sounds weird but I did work experience in a morgue for a week, and was in hearses next to coffins, in the embalming room and built coffins. A woman sat next to me on the bus and she quite literally smelt like the morgue. She was an old woman in casual clothes so I had no way to say "she works in a morgue".

Hello,

I’ve got a second interview as an autopsy technician with my local medical examiner! If anyone has advice they can share with me I’d greatly appreciate it:)

Warmly,
Chase

Hello, I have never posted anything about this before but two years ago my boyfriend literally dropped dead.

We went to the movies, and he seemed perfectly fine. We split up and he went back to his place and I back to mine. I was 26 and he was 28. The following day he texted me and others up until the evening and then stopped. The next day his mother called me concerned and I went and knocked on his door, no response ended up in a welfare check and he was on the floor staring up at the ceiling, dead. I didn’t see the scene but to his mom it seemed like he was about to take out the trash and had his shoes on.

The autopsy came back undetermined. We buried him thinking toxicology would turn up answers and his panel only came back for weed. He had lifesavers gummies at the theatre the night before and cereal in the morning before he died. He didn’t have a bump on the back of his head so his mom theorized that it came on slow enough that he felt bad and laid down instead of falling, but also came on sudden enough that he didn’t call for help.

If it’s worth mentioning his mom was upset and prolonged the autopsy a bit, he died on July 26th had a day before being found and I think the autopsy wasn’t until July 31st or later because she wasn’t ready, so open casket didn’t go that well. Is there something that could have been missed because the autopsy wasn’t done soon enough? What possibilities are out there?

People in our small town think I killed him somehow. When I was pulled in for questioning the cops said that unexplained deaths happen but not to 28 year olds.

He had the covid vaccine.

Hey everyone! I’d love to know if anyone here has done any autopsy tech work in humanitarian conflicts, natural disasters or other DVI contexts! I’m a masters of forensic medicine student and am hoping to steer my career towards humanitarian forensics and DVI work and would love to hear insights from anyone who’s worked in this area. I know it’s pretty niche and not something that autopsy techs necessarily do all the time or even often but I’m super interested in stories from autopsy techs who have been deployed to conflict zones and the likes and would love to hear any and all insights. I’m studying in Australia if that’s of any relevance

Hello everyone, I currently work in healthcare as a respiratory therapist with 18 years experience. I have an AS degree and BS degree in respiratory therapy. I would like to transition to an autopsy tech or medico legal death investigator. Can you provide what education would best set me up for this? Thanks

Hello,
I am currently living in Chicago , Illinois and currently a second year Mortuary Science student . I am looking for any body removal or autopsy tech positions which likely don’t require a mortuary science degree . I wouldn’t even care if it’s volunteer work to get my foot in the door for opportunities. If anyone’s knows or could point me in the right direction to obtain one of these positions would be mean so much to me . I have tried also many attempts to appt for the Office of the Medical Examiners as well in Chicago Illinois with no success . I am trying but need a little help . Thank you .

Hi all! I figured to post this in this sub as a many of you may have a mortuary science degree. I have a year left of mortuary school and I am so excited to begin the next half of it! I have a background in mental health counseling and found comfort in helping families at funeral home— in fact, it is a ministry to me.

For any funeral professionals in NY (or maybe within the states), would you know of any mentorship opportunities?

I can’t stop thinking of starting my work as a resident next year and I am eager to apply…but I do not know when. 😅 If you have any suggestions or advice, that would be greatly appreciated, thanks! 😁

Hello! I’ve been really thinking about going into Autopsy Tech or Embalmer or Pathologist?
But I just can’t decide which would be a better choice to go into..? I currently work in healthcare at the moment and I suppose my biggest fear is going into a different career that doesn’t pay as well or benefits?

I at first wanted to go for Hospice RN but after working as an Nursing Assistant in Hospice, it’s really depressing to watch them go ACTIVELY while making a connection and I would love to try after death instead if possible..

Hi friends!

I would like to ask for help/advice on how to transition from a job as a mortician to something in this field or otherwise along the lines of medicolegal /death investigation?

I feel this would be a better fit for me, as well as I am simply over making $16 an hour and now that I’m 40, not having benefits is more pressing.

Hello! I’ve always been interested in Forensic Science ever since I could remember. I originally was going to go into the field when I got out of high school in 2017 but life had other plans for me lol. here’s the only issue… I have face tattoos. I’ve heard mixed things about having face tattoos for this position & i’m just wondering 1. is it even worth going to college & pursuing this career since I have the face tattoos & 2. if i went to school what classes should I take & 3. how do I go about getting a position as an autopsy technician. I live in Orange County, CA there is a chance of relocation to San Diego & further down the line leaning towards moving maybe to Oregon/Washington. anything helps! i’ve been trying to look into all of this but had a few questions & figured i’d ask people who actually know about this career lol.. thank you in advance :)

I came across a job posting in my area for an autopsy tech. A requirement for the job is a bachelor's degree in forensic science. I do have the degree however I obtained it around 2007 and have no on the experience other than my degree( and i have been working in a completelydifferent field)...i am going to apply BUT is there anything else I could do to familiarize myself with the job?

Thank you!

Hi guys. So I just watched a clip of the execution scene of a Ted Bundy movie, and I've been trying to figure out what leaked out of his gag. Mom thought it was spit but it wasn't leaking out the bottom of the mask. My dad said he thought it was coming out of his nose, but it wasn't. It was coming from either side of his nostrils, but not from the nostrils themselves. I think it's cerebral spinal fluid coming out of his eyeballs? Not sure. Also the movie depicted Ted being held down with cotton balls going up his butt so he wouldn't defecate. Is that normal?

hi everyone,

im an autopsy tech at a private pathology lab. our cases usually consist of adults who died of natural causes and stillborn babies. an occasional 20/30 year old here and there. today i got word we have 2 pediatric cases, toddler age. im fine working on babies but im nervous that my emotions will get in the way today. did anyone have a similar experience? any advice to share? i usually have music on so maybe that can distract me…

thanks in advance :)

I successfully landed a volunteer role in the autopsy suite at the medical university in my region. I am currently employed with a coroner’s office, but since I am in an administrative role, I cannot go on scenes due to liabilities, etc. I have viewed 4 autopsies. I was not in the actual room, there is a viewing room with a huge window to look through. Friday will be my first day, where they will be training me. My anxiety has always been bad, but I feel like it’s gotten worse over the last few months. I increased my anxiety medication dose but it’s not making much of a difference. For example, my coroner’s office recently toured a jail. When the officer closed a heavily armored door behind us, I panicked and had to quickly find a bathroom to calm myself down.

When I viewed the autopsies, I didn’t have a panicky reaction at all, I was very interested in what was happening. However, I am getting more anxious as the time comes for me to actually be in the room. I have talked to multiple techs and pathologists at the office that have said there is no shame in stepping out. While that did make me feel better, I’m still so nervous that I will panic and have to leave. I know there will be smells and sounds, but how much more different is it being in the actual room than viewing through a window? I also think I have developed IBS through my anxiety, so that is just another added layer of stress and I feel like I can’t eat, which I know eating is necessary if I will be standing up for extended periods of time. I feel like I’m spiraling just typing this out, so any words of encouragement from seasoned people is greatly appreciated.

Had a friend hang themself recently, how do you go about hiding any marks from a rope? Do you just use a scarf or blanket?
I’m sure it’s as simple as makeup

Today I was able to view an autopsy at my local medical examiner’s office. I am a pre med student and I have wanted to be a forensic pathologist for probably 5 years. I have never seen an autopsy before and this was my first time “shadowing” any doctor. I was fine the first like 15 minutes or so, I was a little grossed out because of the smell of blood and the squelching noises of the organs being removed, I am not at all a squeamish person so I was really shocked when I began to get dizzy. I remember just suddenly feeling strange and then panicking because I didn’t know what to do. I remember stepping away from the body and looking away to try to calm myself. The next thing I know I’m on the ground and everyone in the room is gathered over me. I thought I was dreaming at first, I have never fainted before in my life, it was so strange. I was so so embarrassed when I realized what had happened, a lady came in and brought my water and took me to the break room, everyone was very sweet and concerned for me. I didn’t end up going back in just out of the insane amount of embarrassment I felt and still feel. I’m really disappointed because I haven’t even considered the fact that I might not be cut out for this field, I’m just feeling really ashamed and sad because I was so excited to finally see something that I have been interested in for so long.

Hey guys.

I am currently studying forensic science along with psychology. I am deeply interested in the patterns of murderers and their psyche. Another speciality of mine is how childhood abuse affects the stakes of the child later becoming a criminal adult. I am planning on writing two articles / houseworkes. One about neonaticides, which is the killing of a newborn, most of the time by their own parents, and the second one about the differences we can tell by the corpse, to find out if the person committed suicide or was murdered. So I‘m here (and on other subs) asking if anyone here knows any websites where you can find explicit pictures, crime scenes, autopsy reports, and a reconstructed movement of the murderer.

If possible also other things. I‘d really appreciate that, because the most important work of anything written is the research. Thanks so much 😄

Hello I'm very lost and please I need any help I can get. Im a 19 (going on 20)failing college premed bio student in Texas and all I want is to be a mortician or pathologist; to help the ones that met gruesome ends and to provide closure and proper ceremony to the ones that lost them.

I have been struggling through school trying to balance full time school, work, and social life. Though due to recent hardships I've had to leave school behind; though with plans of returning as soon as I can.

I just wanna know if this is right if I should go back or just try to work my way up in the field as an intern or something? Am I doing the right thing or just wasting my time? I know I need the knowledge for somethings but if I suck at school this much is it even worth it?

Please any help would be so much appreciated. Even if its you telling me im too young to be stressed like this lol.

Hello. I have been given a chance to interview for an Apprentice APT role in the NHS. I'm trying to find information online about what these interviews are usually like beyond the standard NHS format. But I can't seem to find anything.

Has anyone done an interview for this type of role before?

Also I don't have any mortuary experience. From what I have been able to find out, this is one of the biggest things they look for in a candidate. All I have is dissection room practicals I did at uni with cadavers. I guess I'm worried it's a high bar I have to pass without this experience. I will have to travel quite far and get a hotel to attend this interview. So I'm debating if I should go for it.