Autopsy Assistant

Duties

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Receives bodies or remains from scene of death, including those exposed to severe trauma or disfigurement, transports bodies or remains back to facility for full-body assessment and examination; may perform assessments from off-site locations, such as a disaster site or mortuary.
• Performs full-body assessments by examining, describing and recording external identification marks of the deceased body such as height, weight, hair and eye color, scars, deformations, blemishes, etc.
• Assists pathologist with autopsy; accurately documents and records pathologist's orders; utilizes a variety of tools, instruments, and oscillating saws to open the body cavity and skull; excises organs and specimens using instruments such as scissors and knives; closes the body cavity and skull according to appropriate suturing techniques and procedures; assists in preparing bodies for release to mortuaries.
• Prepares specimens for lab examination by using chemical preservatives and by weighing, measuring and describing specimens; mixes solutions, collects and prepares specimens for toxicological analysis, and prepares for shipment; properly discards specimens after appropriate storage period.
• X-rays human remains, develops X-ray film; photographs human remains and takes fingerprints, including special printing techniques.
• Maintains forensic facility and autopsy rooms in an organized manner and according to established standards of sanitation; cleans and sterilizes laboratory, tools, instruments, and equipment.
• May serve as witness in pathologist's cases.
• Maintains and ensures various logs and records are accurate.
• May assist investigators with body recovery and securing the body and any personal property of the deceased at the scene of death.
• Inputting and/or retrieving information from various computer programs.
• Responds promptly to time-sensitive incidents by driving either a personal or county vehicle to remote or distant locations as required, ensuring timely resolution and support based on the nature and urgency of the situation.
• Provides vacation and temporary relief as required.

 Earn a Degree in Crime Scene Investigation, Forensic Science, or Computer Forensics

Requirements

Experience:

• One (1) year full-time equivalent paid work experience (within the past year) assisting pathologists with autopsies in a forensic pathology (morgue) setting, which includes collecting, securing, and preparing specimens from human remains.
• Note: Experience as an intern or in a volunteer program is not considered qualifying.

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