The Final Diagnosis: What Autopsies Reveal About Life and Death

by Claire Datnow, Boris Datnow

Ordinary people suffering extraordinary demises, no cops, no criminals, just the laying bare of the human body and the final diagnosis of the cause and nature of death. The Final Diagnosis opens a window into the why's and how's and intimate details of the autopsy procedure, and the skill and dedication of the investigative pathologist in solving death's medical mysteries. Hard science resolves the mysteries; however, it is the humanity of the families that touches the heart. Like a good mystery, each case is salted with clues to help the reader solve the final cause of death-revealed only at the end...

220 pages, Paperback

First published October 6, 2010

About the author

Claire Datnow grew up in Johannesburg, South Africa. Her family originates from Lithuania. Claire immigrated to the United States with her husband, Dr. Boris Datnow, in 1965. She wears many colorful hats—nature lover, conservationist, historian, world traveler, and writer. THE ADVENTURES of The SIZZLING SIX: ECO MYSTERY series (grades 4-8) . RED FLAG WARNING: AN ECO ADVENTURE, climate change fiction. Blogs at: http//www.mediamint..net. She has published numerous works of nonfiction ranging from news features and educational materials, to biographies for young adults. She taught gifted and talented children, in the Birmingham, Alabama Public School System. She has received numerous scholarships and grants including a Beeson Samford University Writing Project fellowship, a Folk Life Grant from the Alabama Arts Council, a Fulbright Memorial Fund teacher scholarship to Japan, the Blanche Dean Award for Environmental Education, and Birmingham Public Schools Teacher of the Year. Claire Blogs on the ENVIRONMENT, HISTORICAL NOVELS, and MEMOIRS. You can visit her Blogs at: www.mediamint.net

Reviews

[Stacy Kingsley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought that this book was fabulous. It was a little technical for my tastes, but it was still understandable.

There were things about the book that I really enjoyed, learning what a pathologist does, and what kinds of things they look for when doing an autopsy. The reason autopsies are not being done as much was also interesting, for example, people don't want to pay for them and hospitals hardly do them anymore. I, personally, want an autopsy done on me when I die, just to make sure I am dead. The diseases, or reasons, people died was fascinating as well.

One of the issues I had with this book was the authors voice. At times he seemed a little full of himself, especially when he added his own little thing to the end of each chapter. I also wasn't sure of his description of the day the deceased had, how did he know, so there was a little creative nonfiction going on.

If you are into learning a little about death and pathology, I recommend this book.

[Claire Datnow]

Ordinary people, suffering extraordinary demises, no cops, just the laying bare of the human body and the final diagnosis of the cause and nature of death. The Final Diagnosis opens a window into the why's and how's and intimate details of the autopsy procedure, and the skill and dedication of the investigative pathologist in solving death's medical mysteries.

[Claire Datnow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating and information. Each case written as a mini mystery salted with clues until the final diagnosis is revealed at the end