Issue #7
03/31/2023
Issue #6
03/26/2023
Issue #5
03/20/2023
Great Decisions update
03/14/2023
Dominion Lawsuit, South Africa and 710 Stub
03/08/2023
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
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
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.