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Pathology
The doctrine of diseases
In the pathology department, autopsies are carried out on corpses that have died of natural causes and whose relatives have given prior permission for the procedure. At the request of the relatives, the procedure can also be limited to a partial autopsy. As a rule, the deceased come from the hospital area. A pathological-anatomical autopsy should clarify the accuracy of the diagnosis, the success of the therapy and the immediate cause of death.
The main task of human taxidermists here, as in the field of forensic medicine, is to assist with autopsies. This includes preparation, supporting doctors during implementation, carrying out particularly complex and technically challenging procedures and professionally restoring the corpse as follow-up care.
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The area of responsibility also includes dealing with undertakers and relatives. The preparation of long-term preparations is nowadays more the exception than the rule in pathology, but the most common preparation procedures should still be known. The further area of responsibility depends heavily on the requirements of the respective institution. This can e.g. B. include the following: Supporting laboratory areas, embalming and coffins for undertakers, taking responsibility for ordering, disposing of materials and chemicals, maintaining existing collection specimens, etc.
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In this specialist area, human taxidermists need not only anatomical knowledge but also extensive knowledge of disease theory, a high degree of flexibility and, of course, manual skills.