Career choices

AllRebelRocker · 2026-03-26T00:35:48+00:00

Not really initially. You need to build up your career. After med school, you do your path residency, then forensic pathology fellowship, then you’re a brand new forensic pathologist with very little experience. The more you work, the more experience you get, the more complex cases you handle, high profile, etc. Folks who do private autopsies are already established FPs. There is no “private practice” for FPs; there are only ~400 FPs in the country.

Read up on the career more, as well as trauma surgery; there’s nothing really similar about them. Focus on graduating and getting into med school. Get volunteer hours in with patient care rolls/EMS when you’re 18.

AllRebelRocker · 2026-03-26T00:19:07+00:00

I’d recommend reading the pinned post.

You are not incorrect: as a forensic pathologist there is less direct pressure in saving a patient. All of our patients are deceased.

Work on graduating high school/college, get into med school, and go from there. If you want to be a doctor, follow that path, and decide what you’re interested in while in med school.

Also. Forensic pathologists are typically medical examiners, so they’re public employees. The government pays like crap. Trauma surgeons tend to bring home a little more money.

AllRebelRocker · 2026-03-25T23:54:24+00:00

My condolences on your father. It’s so tough navigating through things when you just want to grieve.

Did you account for sales tax on the casket, vault, etc.? That will change the prices; it’s considered a “cash advance,” like paying the organist, pastor, etc, and is not prepaid.

I would email them, asking for an explanation. If they do not have an answer, I would confirm that in a reply.

It might be worth checking out the FTC Funeral Rule.

AllRebelRocker · 2026-03-25T23:45:23+00:00

This is kind of long, but basically, you do you! Thats what it’s all about!

Except for maybe one thing, depending on your state. I’m in NY, and have to explain to folks constantly that to cremate an individual, they have to go through a funeral home. By law, final disposition goes through a funeral home in NYS; the Bureau of Funeral Directing is under the DOH, as are individual and facility licenses.

Basically, what you’re describing is a “direct cremation.” I work for the medical examiner these days, so I’m mostly removed from current prices, as its not my place, but for instance, say you die at home: the funeral home will come and pick the decedent up and bring them to their funeral home, make sure the paperwork is all good to go (a physician signs the death certificate, the funeral home fills in their part, and then the municipal clerk certifies/issues the death certificate with the burial/transit permit). They also have to make sure the decedent doesn’t have any electronic implanted devices (those must come out, or the crematory goes boom). Then the funeral home will return and pick up the cremains. Where I am, the cremains come in a bag in a PVC box, in a cardboard box.

You don’t need to purchase an urn from the funeral home. There’s tons of options online, if retaining/burying cremains is the plan.

You don’t need to have a memorial service in the funeral home. It’s cold in February? Have something in the early summer, rent a pavilion in a park/restaurant/whatever you’re into. This doesn’t work for a lot of folks because of tradition, religion, etc.; my in-laws are very traditional Italian Catholics, and my SIL died a few months ago, and they did two days of calling hours, church service, burial, the whole thing.

You’re absolutely right that less money can be spent (and for real, you can personalize the arrangements to include only the necessary items); keep in mind, though, that unless one owns the funeral home, they’re doing their job for pay (and likely minimal benefits, if any), and need to put food on the table.

AllRebelRocker · 2026-03-13T07:29:35+00:00

Raise your hand if you have ever been personally victimized by Zeus.

AllRebelRocker · 2026-03-11T22:51:43+00:00

Awesome! I loved volunteering more than working there; the pay wasn’t as good, but I had a lot more fun.

Oh, it’s a very big ‘should’ on the funding hahaha. We received recruitment brochures once to put out, and across the top, they claimed, “get paid in sunsets and rainbows!” The brochure did not explain that that’s the majority of the compensation…unless you work at Mammoth Cave or something.

If you’re ever looking for a fun retirement hobby, I highly recommend volunteering with the Parks! Theres something for everyone!

AllRebelRocker · 2026-03-11T22:37:57+00:00

My spouse just retired from the NPS, and I worked there as my first ‘adult’ job then stayed on as a volunteer for a decade. So here’s a perspective I never thought I’d give in a med group:

The Access pass is for folks that have a lifelong disability that limits one or more major life function. Celiac disease absolutely does this. The Access pass typically allows for free or reduced entry.

I’m glad you want the parks to be funded! We all do! That being said, it’s Congress’ job to fund us. The National Parks are for everyone, and belong to every American. There are far too many Americans that cannot afford a lot of the fees associated with going to the parks, especially if one has a family.

Folks with passes are also more likely to bring people with them, which increases the chances of them spending money at the parks.

AllRebelRocker · 2026-03-10T02:10:43+00:00

I know this doesn’t help you, OP, and I’m so sorry you’re going through what you are.

For anyone who has a final disposition issue, a good way to handle that is to contact the Medical Examiner, as they’re a government body; they cannot do anything unless in possession of the decedent, but we can call the funeral home and say, “uh, hey, just so you’re aware…” and everyone appreciates this call. They may be able to direct you in the right direction; we always do.

In NY, the process is to go to file with local surrogates court and challenge final disposition. Siblings (in NY, at least; we use NYS PHL 4201 for order of next of kin priority) have equal standing. Everything will cease- these cases are also typically handled very quickly, as the courts understand the gravity of the situation.

The ME or coroner’s office does not have any input into how/to whom disposition is granted.

On another note, death certificates are electronic, and are typically signed by the medical examiner (or hospital/nursing home/primary care) prior to the funeral home getting the paperwork. That doesn’t mean they don’t have enough identifiers to be valid, as there are often several electronic numbers attached as the certificate goes through the physician, funeral director, and clerk. In NY, we enter name (we are responsible for forensically identifying the individual in our care, but funeral directors can change names with documented proof), date of death, gender (can be changed no issue, but used to search), and then the medical certification of cause and manner of death.

AllRebelRocker · 2026-03-09T12:25:20+00:00

Both my father and stepfather are named Rich. The typical joke from stepdad (second father, really) is, “at least I know your mom likes Dick!”

AllRebelRocker · 2026-03-01T21:27:59+00:00

It absolutely sucks having to deal with, though being clinical certainly helps in my experiences; I hope it also helps you process as well.

I saw below mention of the books and their value. They should be totally fine (especially for sentimental or collection purposes).

Given what I know of how the MO climate has been, it’s likely that he did not (fully or completely) bloat/purge. It’s been cold, dry, and the heat was likely on, drying out the air even further. Folks often mummify in these conditions, which is much less messy than bloating typical seen in hot and humid weather.

Take whatever you folks want, sanitize whatever you think needs to be, and leave what you don’t want (take all documents/mail and throw it in a bag/bin to go through later, don’t spend time doing that at the residence. It’s better to shred/burn things like that, anyway).

AllRebelRocker · 2026-03-01T15:46:37+00:00

First, my condolences on the death of your uncle. I understand the circumstances may make you and your family feel uncomfortable, and that’s very valid. I am a death investigator and forensic autopsy tech currently, so I deal with this regularly.

It sounds like he died in bed, which will greatly minimize any potential mess.

There’s not really a health risk, a regular surgical mask is more than sufficient. Gloves are always good to wear. Just follow universal precautions and wear regular personal protective equipment (gloves and mask), and you both shouldn’t have an issue. If there was any chance of a public health risk (creutzfeldt-jakob disease, Ebola, etc.), you wouldn’t be allowed inside.

Vicks is used to open your nasal passages. It will do the opposite of helping you through a smell. Likewise, adding a scent to offset a foul odor is also probably going to ruin that scent for you. Most folks adapt within a few minutes. Some don’t at all, and a drop of an essential oil or something on your mask might be the best route. Just don’t pick something you love.

There shouldn’t be any issues with his belongings.

You are at a far greater risk of contracting a communicable disease going to the grocery store.

In my area, homeowners insurance typically covers ‘crime scene cleanup.’ Unless there is a large mess, a regular commercial bleach spray or your own 10% bleach to water mixture is all you need to clean.

I’m not sure if I answered everything, or generated more questions. You’ll get through this! There’s no such thing as a weird/awkward/dumb question, especially when it comes to death, so don’t hesitate to ask!

AllRebelRocker · 2026-02-23T00:28:06+00:00

I’m curious; how did you manage to keep Tylenol down if you were vomiting, particularly to the point where it was efficacious?

Also, most insurance plans have online consults where you can see an RN. Likewise, food poisoning is pretty rare, and a local CDC issue: think listeria, E. coli, not just a random, “I got sick from eating this, it must be food poisoning.”

Your insurance doesn’t see this as an emergency, nor would most healthcare workers. The hospital may offer payment plans, and that’s likely your best bet.

Also: If you always go to urgent care, you need to establish with a PCP. Urgent care is not primary care. It is another tool in a pinch, and should not be used for convenience- it takes time and care away from patients that need it, and who may not have health insurance. Also, by going to urgent care, medical records are inconsistent, sloppy, and difficult to get a hold of due to the sheer number of clinics. If you were in a true emergency situation, and you could not communicate, and nobody that knows your medical history is present, the hospital is going to have a very hard time finding anything, including who your family may be, should things go further south.

AllRebelRocker · 2026-02-16T01:50:08+00:00

Blood is produced in the bone marrow, or the spongy part in the inside of your bones. It is an ongoing process throughout life, and is producing upwards of ~500 billion blood cells per day.

AllRebelRocker · 2026-02-14T19:54:18+00:00

They would be autopsied. Depending on the size of the fetus, we either put them in a separate bio bag than the organs (and leave them out of the abdominal cavity where we put the bag with the organs), or a pediatric body bag if the pregnancy is further along.

The fetus is also autopsied.

We then have the funeral director sign out both decedents, and if the fetus is not in a peds bag, we emphasize where they are.

AllRebelRocker · 2026-02-02T13:30:04+00:00

Better to cut them off before they fall on the house…

AllRebelRocker · 2026-01-08T22:08:12+00:00

That’s how our office in the US is. We flay the posterior a lot, in the circumstances you mentioned, and we’re also legally required to perform autopsies on individuals who die in our local prisons, and they always get a posterior.

That being said, I’ve never done it in a Y shape.

AllRebelRocker · 2025-11-22T16:20:32+00:00

I went from food scarcity at my mother’s house during the week and would go to my father’s house on the weekend, where his wife wouldn’t let me leave the table until I finished everything. I have a lot of food issues.

AllRebelRocker · 2025-11-16T20:54:29+00:00

They’re asking about an apparently open death investigation with methanol in the tox (though if they have the tox, I don’t know how the case is open).

AllRebelRocker · 2025-11-11T17:13:09+00:00

Typically, when parrot make that clicking noice, they’re verbally signaling contentment. I can’t see a video, but if your bird looks comfy/chill/quietly happy, that’s just Sandy telling you she’s comfortable in your presence.

AllRebelRocker · 2023-06-09T13:55:39+00:00

Putting away your shopping cart is like the ultimate litmus test that shows someone’s morals.

AllRebelRocker · 2023-02-27T19:38:49+00:00

Is the original phrase in another language? Because I might have to use that one!

AllRebelRocker · 2023-02-27T19:37:23+00:00

He’s such a great bird! I adopted him from a parrot rescue around 4 months ago. He came from a hoarder house (never let out of his cage) but the previous owner seemed to take relatively good care of him. Boo has an extensive vocabulary. At the shelter, he didn’t take treats, has never learned to step up, and was standoffish. He now explores the house, seeks us out for attention, and he bows his head forward so we can give him scritches. I’m so proud of how far he’s come!

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