Bladder Wash as an Alternative Postmortem Toxicology Specimen: Forensic Pathologists' Perspectives

In postmortem forensic investigations, where the bladder is voided or dehydrated prior to autopsy, it is possible to wash the bladder with saline to collect the resulting "bladder wash" and any residual urine for toxicological analysis. Although this method is not yet commonplace or standard, a recent study has demonstrated that bladder wash is an effective alternative specimen in postmortem forensic toxicology. The current study aimed to assess forensic pathologists' opinions on the use of bladder wash samples both before and after reviewing bladder wash toxicological data. An online survey was distributed to forensic pathologists from NAME, and responses were analyzed to identify any shifts in perceptions after data presentation. The findings revealed that most forensic pathologists recognized the benefits of bladder wash collection and analysis as well as its usefulness in determining the cause and manner of death, with noticeable changes in perspective following exposure to supporting data. This study highlights the potential value of standardizing the easy and accessible collection of bladder wash for postmortem toxicological analysis, thereby providing forensic pathologists with invaluable information when other biological specimens are unavailable.