Blog archive
April 2024
Stimulated by "Caste"
04/22/2024
Tulsa reparations, Religion and Politics
04/09/2024
March 2024
Trumps War with Black Women
03/31/2024
Addressing The Needs of Older Adults Through Pasadena Village
03/25/2024
Coming Soon: More Resources for Older Americans, Online and in Person
03/25/2024
Community Building Locally and Nationally
03/25/2024
Preparing for the Future with Ready or Not
03/25/2024
Volunteering is at The Heart of the Village
03/25/2024
Women's Liberation: Then and Now
03/25/2024
Writing Memoirs Together
03/25/2024
Current Views on Current Events
03/20/2024
Unchained
03/18/2024
Rumr of Humor issue # 2409
03/10/2024
Blacks Portrayed by European Artists
03/03/2024
Rumor of Humor #2408
03/03/2024
February 2024
Caring for Ourselves and Each Other
02/27/2024
Doug Colliflower Honored
02/27/2024
Great Decisions Connects Us to the Worldwide Community
02/27/2024
Letter from the President
02/27/2024
Pasadena Village's Impact
02/27/2024
The Power of Touch
02/27/2024
Villages as a New Approach to Aging
02/27/2024
Addressing Gang Violence in Pasadena-Altadena
02/21/2024
Rumor of Humor Issue 2407
02/19/2024
Thank You For Caring.
02/12/2024
Rumor of Humor 2405
02/11/2024
Curve Balls
02/10/2024
Sylvan Lane
02/10/2024
Rumor of Humor 2404
02/09/2024
Larry Duplechan, Blacks in Film
02/03/2024
January 2024
Pasadena Village Joins Community Partners in Vaccination Campaign
01/29/2024
Rumor of Humor #2403
01/28/2024
Pasadena Village Joins Two Healthy Aging Resource Projects
01/25/2024
Decluttering: Do It Now
01/24/2024
Village Volunteers Contribute to the Huntington Magic
01/24/2024
Villagers Creating Community
01/24/2024
Villagers Reflect on Black History Month
01/24/2024
Walk With Ease, 2024
01/24/2024
Wide Ranging Discussion on Current Issues
01/22/2024
Wide Ranging Discussion on Current Issues
01/22/2024
Rumor of Humor # 2402
01/21/2024
Rumor of Humor # 2401
01/15/2024
Re- Entry Programs, a Personal Experience
01/08/2024
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.