Knife After Death

In this case study, forensic pathologist Dr. Wolfe discusses a type of case more commonly seen in northern latitudes and colder environments. The importance of scene examination is paramount in such cases, and the clinical and autopsy findings are discussed. 

In this episode, Dr. Wolfe discusses a rare case in which a case of sudden death was caused by a benign tumor. Note: The time of the episode may be listed as 36 minutes, but it is 23 minutes.

Dr. Wolfe discusses many of the sights, smells and sounds of the autopsy procedure that have resulted in visitors to his autopsies being unsettled, running out of the room or fainting. This is a good episode for anyone who has not observed an autopsy but is considering doing so. 

In this episode, Dr. Wolfe discusses the cause of death of Albert Einstein and briefly covers the unusual saga of the removal, storage and study of Einstein’s brain.

Dr. Wolfe gives an overview of what types of findings are observed at typical COVID-19 autopsies. 

In the final episode of Season 1 of Knife After Death, Dr. Wolfe discusses how scientific principles apply to the field of forensic pathology (use case studies), pitfalls of unscientific approaches and ultimately the philosophical reasons why he became a medical examiner. 

In episode 10 of Season 1 of Knife After Death, Dr. Wolfe discusses the forensic elements of the investigation and autopsy of fire-related deaths. These deaths often involve charred bodies and hinge on a multi-disciplinary investigation including radiology, scene investigation and toxicology studies. First and foremost, murder must be ruled out!

In this episode, Dr. Wolfe discusses body parts (dismemberments) from accidents and homicides as well as bringing back bodies from the grave (exhumations) for autopsy after burial. The last in a 3 episode series on "creepy" forensic findings.

In this episode, Dr. Wolfe answers fan questions regarding spirit and consciousness with regards to the dead at autopsy, some elements of decomposition and shares stories of what kinds of creatures might inhabit the corpse, including maggots, mice, and even spiders! 

For the month of October, Dr. Wolfe is doing Halloween-themed episodes. This episode focuses on autopsies on warm bodies, pathology of the eyes, goosebumps after death, rigor mortis and using the removed, decomposing skin of the hands for fingerprinting. Some of the topics were based on questions from fans of the podcast. 

In this episode, Dr. Wolfe talks about the path to becoming a Forensic Pathologist/Medical Examiner in terms of educational requirements, experience and intangibles one needs to take this long and rewarding journey. 

In this episode Dr. Wolfe discusses the criteria that determine which types of deaths get sent to the medical examiner for autopsy, and thus, which types of deaths to avoid if you don't wish to be autopsied. 

In this episode Dr. Wolfe discusses the ways in which deaths are described and categorized in the forensic realm. He uses short case examples (real cases!) to demonstrate the necessary features to learn and understand these concepts. All manners of death from naturals through homicides are covered. 

In this episode, Dr. Wolfe provides a brief history of autopsy performance and tells the story of his own first autopsy as a pathology intern. The autopsy is considered a gold standard for understanding and describing new diseases and therapies. The curiosity demonstrated by the medical scientist is innate within us all, spurring us to search for truth in the form of objective fact within the body...

In this episode, Dr. Wolfe describes the process of dissecting a human cadaver in Gross Anatomy class, touching on historical elements and personal experience. This the the first part of a 2 part discussion on The Substance of Death: the varied conditions and states of the dead body. The Gross Anatomy cadaver is considered the first patient a medical student has, and in some cases is the first exp...

In this episode, Dr. Darin Wolfe MD (forensic pathologist/medical examiner) reviews the final autopsy report of the autopsy of Mr. George Floyd of Minneapolis. The purpose and structure of autopsy reports will be discussed as well as the most relevant findings contained in the report of this controversial case. If you wish to follow along, the report is easily obtainable online (Google).