Unnatural Death: Confessions of a Medical Examiner

Unnatural Death: Confessions of a Medical Examiner

By: Michael M. Baden  

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Average Customer Rating: 4.0 out of 5

* The deaths of John Belushi and Elvis Presley were far more complex than anyone has let on.

* Decisive medical findings in the von Bulow affair were consistently overlooked.

These are but three of the shocking revelations in Dr. Michael Baden's first-person, no-holds-barred account of his distinguished career in forensic pathology. In determining the causes of tens of thousands of deaths, from those of presidents and rock stars to victims of serial killings, exotic sex rituals, mass disasters, child abuse and drug abuse, Baden has come to the unavoidable conclusion that the search for scientific truth is often sullied by the pressures of expediency. He produces dramatic evidence to demonstrate that political intrigue, influence peddling, and professional incompetence have created a national crisis in forensic medicine.

"A fascinating look into the mechanics of forensics and a disconcerting lesson in the politics of death." -- The New York Times Book Review

Description:
Forensic pathologist Michael Baden was a medical examiner in New York City for more than 25 years. Now he works for the New York State Police and teaches forensic medicine. This engrossing book covers: (1) several famous cases, including Baden's personal re-examination of the autopsy findings for Martin Luther King and John F. Kennedy; (2) unusual cases Baden had as medical examiner for NYC, such as an autopsy on a dining room table at the Plaza Hotel; (3) how medical examiners decide on means of death, with a section on poisons; (4) the history of coroners and medical examiners since 12th century England; (5) disturbing politics involved in the office of the Chief Medical Examiner of NYC; (6) identification of the dead; (7) time of death; (8) multiple-murder cases; (9) an almost perfect murder; (10) close calls, including near deaths during sex; (11) cases of mistaken diagnosis; and (12) autopsy findings that shed light on what happened in the Attica uprising.

Publisher: Ballantine Books

Release Date: 1990-03-28

Customer Review: 5 out of 5
Readable, Informative, mostly non-gruesome - This former Medical Examiner (for NYC) describes his career and profession in gripping, readable fashioin. Dr. Michael Baden shows how autopsies by properly-trained forensic pathologists provide a road map as to the time and cause of death As medical examiner and consultant, Dr. Baden investigated many mysterious deaths, discovering a variety of causes; suicide, disease, drug/alcohol abuse, accidents, and foul play. Among the more famous cases in these pages are Sonny Von Bullow (he suggests suicide), John Belushi, and President Kennedy. Dr. Baden investigated the latter after the Warren Commission, and claimed incomplete (and improper) examination inspired doubts and suspicion (Baden supports the single-gunman theory). Readers also learn about poisons, attempted cover-ups, and mysterious deaths where incompetence or lack of a properly trained examiner caused errors and mis-reporting. Then there is the political pressure from prosecutors, activists and/or politicians, pressures that can be highly intimidating. Additionally, readers learn about many aspects (rigor mortis, dialations, falling body temperatures, etc.) and the basic differences between forensic pathologists, coroners, and other physicians, some of whom are not properly trained for autopsies.

Baden (and co-author Judith Hennessee) present the subject in interesting fashion, yet mostly avoid certain gruesome aspects (insect larvae implanted into dead skin, etc.) that can leave readers with upset stomaches. The result is a readable, interesting book that is worth your time. Those who are able to handle more gruesome detail might enjoy DEAD MEN DO TELL TALES by Dr. William Maples.

Customer Review: 4 out of 5
Good Reading - I disagree with "By a Customer". I feel the book was well written and enjoyed reading it. My only complaint is with the author believing some things are only conspiracy, like Kennedy's killing. There were 7 different bullet holes, but yet only one gun used by a man named Harvey Oswald? I don't think so. I don't understand how he can speak of things as fact that are not fact. However, that being said, the book is generally a good read and I found it hard to put down. I Wouldn't spend money on it though, get it at the library.

Customer Review: 5 out of 5
Extremely Engrossing Book! Excellent read! - As a past student of Mortuary Science and a person with great interest in Law Enforcement, this book held the best of both worlds for me. Dr. Michael Baden does a great job of grabbing and holding the readers interest with his many stories of case experiences as a Medical Examiner, and brief stint as Chief Medical Examiner. I highly recommend this book to anyone with interest in Forensics and Law enforcement.

Customer Review: 4 out of 5
Baden Brings Death Alive - After you get past this author's overweening ego, he has a great story to tell. First, he educates you that his specialty is forensic pathology, meaning that as a doctor he focuses not on the living but on the dead--and their three kinds of unnatural deaths (suicides, homicides, and accidents) and the traumatic causes thereof (e.g., drowning, asphyxiation, gunshot and stab wounds, blunt force, poisoning, overdose, etc.). He explains the three traditional signs used to determine how long a person has been dead (temperature, color, and stiffness) and gets you thinking about toxicology screenings so that you enter the main body of the book more prepared for what follows.

And he tells his story as an insider, as indeed he is, being one of the most renowned MEs in the world. When he says, for example, "Where bungled autopsies are concerned, President Kennedy's is the exemplar," we listen. He goes on to give a rather definitive answer to questions that we have all wondered about, as told from the prospective of the evidence: Oswald acted alone, Claus von Bulow didn't do it, Cathy Smith did give Belushi his fatal injection, and so forth. His stories of less well-known folks are no less compelling, and Baden does a good job of leading the reader through the gory and technical details to a scientific conclusion. Ideally, however, one should read the companion volume of his friend, Dr. William Maples, in tandem with this one. He is a forensic anthropologist who does with skeletons what Baden does with "fresher" evidence. All in all, a good read . . .

Customer Review: 5 out of 5
Very Interesting - This is a very good book if you are interested in forensic science; it's probably not for everyone. It goes hand in hand with the series on HBO.

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