I’ve seen a few episodes of the UK series Silent Witness, and I like it quite a lot. But there’s one aspect that always puzzles me. The forensic pathologists are always shown working alongside the investigating police officers, interviewing witnesses etc. Is this really how pathologists work in the UK? Or is it simply thrown in to increase the dramatic effect?
Forensic pathologists: their role in criminal investigations? (Prompted by UK series Silent Witness)
Dramatic effect. They’re pathologists, not cops. At best they can suggest a line of inquiry.
They also don’t carry guns or arrest people. Their job is with Mr Boddy/Dr Black, himself.
Oh, and it’s not only boring but intensely smelly. On TV you don’t see people dabbing mentholated unguents (“Silence of the Lambs”) or an Avon sample of gardenia perfume (my wife, though since stiffs can already have a gardenia afternote, I don’t know why she picked it) under their noses before going into the autopsy. Kathy Reichs says you get used to the smell, but I’m convinced I took the right course by shifting out of that and into engineering.
I thought as much. Thanks.