Aberdeen, Scotland, has seen an unprecedented shortage of forensic pathologists in recent years – a story that seems familiar across the world. Since 2022, there hasn’t been a full-time forensic pathologist working in Aberdeen, with The Crown Force taking over management of post-mortem examinations. Examination wait times average around a week and, though the Scottish government states “appropriate coverage” is in place, it’s the families of the deceased that continue to suffer as services remain overrun.
As doctors are flown into the country to perform autopsies, it’s not just mental strain affecting families – experts claim that costs could affect taxpayers, with payments to locum pathologists expected to total more than £360,000 in 2026.
Douglas Lumsden, Member of the Scottish Parliament, says, “NHS Grampian wants to establish a forensic pathology service locally, which is what’s needed. I think that would work very well with the establishment of the integrated mortuary at Foresterhill. But the training and retention of these specialists needs to be seriously looked at.”
These delays are also reported in England and Wales, with some families waiting over a month for the return of their loved ones’ bodies. This specific backlog comes with a change in legislation that deaths not investigated by a coroner must now be reviewed by a medical examiner. Between legal interference and a dwindling workforce, it can be argued that the industry is being set up for failure. As Janet Finch-Saunders, Member of the Welsh Parliament, “This scandalous and deeply distressing crisis is not being handled professionally. [...] This needs to be addressed urgently. Such action is the humane thing to do.”
Meanwhile, across the pond in Wausau, Wisconsin, USA, a new forensic science center is in development. This long-awaited facility promises to eliminate long-distance travel, support grieving families, and expand forensic education. Marathon County Administrator Lance Leonhard, explains, “We are striving to make this facility more than a morgue, to really offer those opportunities whether you’re just starting your education or you’re in the career field right now and looking for that continuing education. There are all sorts of educational opportunities that this facility will permit.”
But this isn’t a new initiative: this center has been in progress since 2017. Of course, once the center opens, its efforts are sure to support patients, families, and trainees across the state, but this begs the question: why are we waiting so long for crucial resources?
Recently, we shared a roundtable discussion about the stigma in forensic pathology. Now, hearing these recent news reports, we can’t help but wonder if this stigma is partly to blame for a lack of funding and support. It goes without saying that recent policies brought about in the US are guaranteed to pause, and – in some cases – remove research opportunities altogether. But what can we do about it?
Let’s change the discourse. The Pathologist has spoken to an array of forensic pathologists over the years, and all of them express abundant enthusiasm for their work! In 2022, museum curator and author, Carla Valentine, detailed her passion for the field and why she advocates for forensic science awareness and death education. More recently, Patrick Hansma explained how his career in forensic pathology has proved useful in historical medical book collecting.
A few years ago, following a controversial opinion article, many pathologists came together to argue autopsy’s importance in training, research, and healthcare – this piece might hold the record for most authors of a single article on The Pathologist! This excitement and passion should be celebrated and – who knows – we could see a rise in medical students lining up for autopsy training.
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