Blog archive
November 2023
Connecting with Priyanka Kumar
11/27/2023
Cultural Explorations Plus a Potluck
11/27/2023
From the President
11/27/2023
Loneliness Kills, Social Connections Heal
11/27/2023
Sages and Seekers: Create Intergenerational Connections
11/27/2023
Welcoming the Holidays with Wisdom
11/27/2023
What To Do When the Lights Go Out
11/27/2023
Current Events and Exciting Presentations ahead
11/20/2023
Current Race Issues
11/11/2023
Discussion of Wokeism and CRT
11/06/2023
Humiliation and Degradation
11/05/2023
October 2023
Vintage Celebration Thanksgiving Poem
10/31/2023
Vintage Celebration: Aging in Place Like a Fine Wine
10/31/2023
New to the Village
10/27/2023
Real Life Event with Racism
10/26/2023
30 Years of Changes in Education
10/25/2023
Connecting with the Creative Hannah Rough-Shock
10/24/2023
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging – Pasadena Village's Journey
10/24/2023
Aging Gracefully in Pasadena
10/23/2023
Don't Be a Scam Victim This Holiday Season
10/23/2023
Interns at The Village
10/23/2023
Pasadena Village Visitors – Another Benefit of Community
10/23/2023
Ping Pong Pals
10/23/2023
Two Local Stories
10/16/2023
Conversations with African-American Art
10/09/2023
Racism 1966 in Pasadena
10/05/2023
September 2023
A reminiscence for baseball fans
09/30/2023
Dealing With Loss
09/30/2023
Schmoozendoodle Is "Serious" Fun!
09/28/2023
Vintage Celebration: Aging in Place Like a Fine Wine
09/28/2023
Covid-19 Season Is Here
09/27/2023
What Is Ergonomics?
09/27/2023
Rumor of Humor # 24
09/22/2023
Various Perspectives on Racism
09/16/2023
Rumor of Humor # 23
09/14/2023
A DIfferent Perspective
09/10/2023
Racism I Have Experienced
09/05/2023
1619 " Rump" Session
09/04/2023
August 2023
1619 Project Discussion Group explores the Arroyo Seco
08/28/2023
Beyond the Village - Judith Harris
08/28/2023
Board of Directors: Strategic Planning Updates
08/28/2023
Men's Time Brunch
08/28/2023
One Village, One Book
08/28/2023
Pasadena Racism, Past and Present
08/28/2023
Profile of a Leader: Ron Stoffers
08/28/2023
Remember John and Thelma Orr
08/28/2023
Volunteer & Leadership Training
08/28/2023
Gardenias
08/21/2023
Current Events Including the RICO Indictment of Mr. Trump
08/19/2023
Shining a Light on Current Racial Inequities
08/07/2023
Shining a Light on Current Racial Inequities
08/07/2023
RofH#22
08/06/2023
July 2023
Arroyo Seco Development, Past and Present
07/24/2023
From the President
07/24/2023
Rumor of Humor #20
07/23/2023
VMC Conference 2023
07/21/2023
Strategic Plan Progress: Program Teams
07/17/2023
From the Executive Director
07/14/2023
Reflections from Villager Monica Hubbard
07/14/2023
SCOTUS: Rulings on Cases with No Standing
07/10/2023
History and Future Development of Arroyo Seco
07/09/2023
What I Like About Being a Villager
07/09/2023
June 2023
Dick and Sharon, Mixed Race Marriage
06/19/2023
Conversations with West African Art
06/09/2023
Bridget Brewster Discovers Village Benefits
06/04/2023
Communications Project with Cal State LA
06/02/2023
Creative Aging
06/01/2023
May 2023
One Villager's Story
05/31/2023
Pasadena Area Liberal Arts Center
05/31/2023
Pasadena Village Responds to Rainbow Flag Burning at Pasadena Buddhist Temple
05/31/2023
Plan Ahead - And Be Prepared
05/31/2023
Tuesday, May 23 Pasadena Celebrated Older Americans
05/31/2023
Reparations, Social Justice Activity
05/24/2023
Rumor of Humor #14
05/19/2023
Rumor of Humor #13
05/12/2023
Issue #12
05/09/2023
Science Monday - Review of Meeting on April 10, 2023
05/09/2023
Conversations Re African American Artists Before 1920
05/08/2023
Beyond the Village – Suzi and Phil Hoge
05/01/2023
Congratulations Wayne April! Honored at UNH
05/01/2023
Table Topics
05/01/2023
Volunteer Appreciation at the Village
05/01/2023
“ACCIDENTAL HOST—The Story of Rat Lungworm Disease”
05/01/2023
April 2023
Jumbo Joy
04/24/2023
Pasadenans Recent Experience With Racism
04/23/2023
Recent Events Reflecting Racism
04/23/2023
Photography for Social Justice
04/11/2023
Issue #8
04/07/2023
BEYOND THE VILLAGE - Catherine Deely
04/06/2023
Creative Writing in Older Adults
04/06/2023
Gifts of Love
04/06/2023
March 2023
February 2023
2023 DEI Progress
02/27/2023
BEYOND THE VILLAGE - Doug Colliflower
02/26/2023
CONVERSATIONS WITH ART
02/26/2023
GREAT DECISIONS
02/26/2023
OLDER ADULTS RESOURCE FAIR
02/26/2023
The Important, Influential Books in our Lives - Revisited
02/26/2023
History, Resolution of the 710 Freeway
02/19/2023
Eminent Domain, 710 Highway
02/13/2023
Bernard Garrett, 710 Freeway
02/06/2023
Men's Times Gatherings
02/03/2023
January 2023
Pasadena's Senior Commission
01/30/2023
BEYOND THE VILLAGE - JIM HENDRICK
01/27/2023
GRATITUDE - IT'S GOOD FOR YOU!
01/27/2023
JEFF GUTSTADT - FORENSIC PATHOLOGIST
01/27/2023
Bernard Garrett, Incredible Black Entrepreneur
01/17/2023
What is the "Spirit Talk" Group About?
01/16/2023
Same Ol’ New Year, Brand New Me
01/12/2023
Review of 2022, Consideration of 2023
01/06/2023
BEYOND THE VILLAGE - PATTI LA MARR
01/03/2023
FROM THE CHAIR
01/03/2023
WALK WITH EASE
01/03/2023
JEFF GUTSTADT - FORENSIC PATHOLOGIST
By Susan KujawaPosted: 01/27/2023
Forensic Pathology – A Talk by Jeffrey Gutstadt
On Wednesday, January 11, about 25 members of Pasadena Village activated their Zoom links in order to hear Village member Jeffrey Gutstadt present a talk on his “unusual” profession. Jeff was a forensic pathologist for many years, and the Villagers were eager to hear about what forensic pathology is really like.
Jeff began with some insight into his history. He did his undergraduate work at UC Santa Cruz before moving on to five years of medical school at the University of Chicago. Early in his career, he found that he preferred working in a lab behind the scenes rather than dealing directly with patients. As a result, he spent years as a medical examiner at several coroner's offices in California, eventually ending up at the LA County office. The LA County Coroner's Office serves some 10 million people and performs over 10,000 autopsies per year.
Jeff then went on to list the four types of cases sent to the coroner's office: Homicides, suicides, accidental deaths, and deaths by natural causes. Homicides account for only 10 – 15% of the cases, but they get the most media attention.
A death usually undergoes a preliminary examination in the field (e.g., by an EMT team) before being taken to the coroner's office. The coroner's work begins with a careful external exam. In many cases, an autopsy follows. In addition, a case may require technicians to take x-rays or use fluoroscopes to locate bullets. The coroner then may send specimens to the toxicology lab as needed. Contrary to what we sometimes see on TV, a toxicology exam can easily take weeks. Finally, the coroner submits a report, which includes the cause and manner of death.
Technicians sometimes use CAT scans in lieu of autopsies, but there will always be cases that require the latter. Some cases do not require an autopsy at all; for example, a natural death with a clear cause. In other cases, someone (e.g., a family member) may request an autopsy, even when one is not required.
As expected, gun shot wounds get particularly close inspection. Investigators can determine the direction, character, and shape of a projectile from information provided during an autopsy. Inspectors can glean similar but simpler information on stab wounds, fatal cuts, and blunt force traumas.
The coroner's job is not complete after the examination. Jeff said that he has been called to testify in court hundreds of times all over LA County. Even after “retirement”, the coroner cannot rest completely; cold cases may require appearances in court years later.
Jeff's talk left a lot of time for questions. The Villagers responded with a variety of inquiries, including:
Details about autopsies and when people request autopsies
- The differences in treatment of homicides vs. suicides
- The type of gear he wore during autopsies - (in short, there is a lot of it!)
- His most difficult cases (Answer: Those involving multiple bullet wounds and/or
multiple stabbings, and/or drugs)
- His most interesting case: (Answer: The Bonny Lee Bakley murder case from 2001,
which remains officially unresolved to this day.)
On the lighter side, a Villager asked Jeff if he (or a doctor) could get away with murder. Answer: “Well, maybe so . . .”
And finally, a Villager asked Jeff if the awe he felt about the human body early in his career stayed with him. Answer: “Yes, I still marvel at the body as an amazing machine to this day.”
The Village owes Jeff a debt of gratitude for sharing his experiences. Those present found his words quite informative.
To view the recording of Jeff's talk, click here.