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Frontline Workers in the Backrooms of COVID-19
Jeffrey L Myers1, Lotte Mulder2
1Department of Pathology, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor.
Insights
Forensic pathology teams adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic, managing increased deaths and providing family support. Their work highlights the critical role of forensic pathology in emerging disease response.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Pathology
- Public Health
- Pandemic Response
Background:
- The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic presented unprecedented challenges to public health systems.
- Forensic centers, integrating academic pathology and medical examiner offices, faced significant operational hurdles.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the response of a forensics center to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- To document the experiences of faculty and staff during the initial phase of the pandemic (March-May 2020).
Main Methods:
- A narrative summary was compiled from volunteered stories, data, and photographs from faculty and staff.
- Activities and responses during the March-May 2020 period were documented.
Main Results:
- Forensic teams managed increased deaths, exceeding capacity in hospital morgues and a large urban medical examiner's office (MEO).
- Autopsies and Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) testing were performed on decedents.
- Scene investigators provided unique pandemic-specific support to families, including offering photographs of decedents.
- Pathologists and social workers developed novel solutions to facilitate the grieving process for families.
Conclusions:
- Forensic pathology is crucial for navigating emerging diseases like COVID-19.
- Direct communication with families in forensic pathology serves as a model for patient- and family-centered care.
Objectives:
To review the response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in a forensics center that integrates an academic department of pathology with multiple regional county medical examiners' offices.
Methods:
Faculty and staff were asked to volunteer stories, data, and photographs describing their activities from March through May 2020. The information was assembled into a narrative summary.
Results:
Increased deaths challenged capacity limits in a hospital morgue and a large urban medical examiner's office (MEO) successfully managed by forensic teams and monitored by an institutional command center. Autopsies of suspected and proven cases of COVID-19 were performed in both facilities. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) testing of decedents was performed in a MEO serving a large urban area. Scene investigators worked directly with families to meet needs unique to a pandemic. Artful photographs of decedent's hands and/or tattoos were offered to those unable to have in-person viewings. Pathologists and social workers were available to families of the deceased and created novel solutions to facilitate the grieving process.
Conclusions:
Forensic pathology is important to successfully navigating emerging diseases like the COVID-19 pandemic. Direct conversations with families are common in forensic pathology and serve as a model for patient- and family-centered care.
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