Death Investigations: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)

[yuiyoshida]

[ariadne0614]

1. omg. n/t

[mitch96]

2. coronors don't need any medical training??

Holy shit.. How can you tell if something is wrong if you don't know what a normal organ looks like?? Ahhh but you have to be electable...
m

[cab67]

3. those interested in this should read this book

"The Cadaver King and the Country Dentist" by Radley Balko and Tucker Carrington.

The book covers two wrongful convictions caused by (among other things) bogus forensics, but the authors also discuss the history of the coroner system in the US in general and the South in particular. It actually played a role in suppressing investigations of race-based violence in the Jim Crow era. It's fascinating, if depressing.

[BigmanPigman]

4. I just watched some crime show which had a medical

examiner say that a certain gunshot wound would make blood splatter a certain way. Everyone assumed this guy was experienced and knowledgeable until he said he based his conclusion on the movie Pulp Fiction and how he saw blood splatter from a similar gunshot. The guy's opinion was tossed out.

[cp]

5. Excellent

John Oliver consistently looks at difficult topics with great intelligence, research, and humor. I was reluctant to watch this one, but am very glad I did. Kudos!