The Morgue and the Forensic Pathologist

An often mysterious area of a hospital is the morgue, or mortuary. In this area of the hospital (often a room), human corpses are stored until they are identified, removed, buried, or autopsied for further medical examination. Morgues keep bodies chilled, either in cold chambers of positive temperature or negative temperature. In positive temperature cold chambers, bodies are kept between 2°C and 4°C, keeping for a few weeks but not preventing decomposition. Negative temperature cold chambers keep bodies between -15°C and -25°C, completely halting decomposition by fully freezing the body. The morgue plays an important role in the function of a hospital by keeping deceased patients in a room where they can be stored properly; it is a place where death can be honored and respected. As with most specialized areas of a hospital, the hospital morgue often employs pathologists, coroners, and forensic staff especially trained for dealing with deceased patients.

The integral player in the morgue is the forensic pathologist. Forensic pathologists are specialized physicians who have obtain advanced training in human anatomy and pathology, allowing them perform autopsies on deceased patients. They often deal with natural, sudden, and/or unexpected deaths and attempt to determine the cause of death and the circumstances surrounding their death. Typically, a forensic pathologist examines any abnormalities on the body before conducting an internal examination by opening up body cavities and removing all of the organs in the corpse. They then study the organs for disease and injury, which often leads to further action, usually in the form of additional tests. Following the autopsy and examination, forensic pathologists dictate the results and compile a completed report which states the cause of death, as well as the circumstances surrounding the death.

A morgue may also employ a coroner, a professional that often does not possess a medical degree, as an official responsible for investigating deaths. Additionally, morgues may employ forensic technicians or medical examiners to assist in autopsies and post-mortem examinations. While the morgue may be a dark, hidden area of the hospital, were it not for the morgue and the people that work in them, hospitals would not have a place to store cadavers and perform autopsies.