Autopsy experts answer questions people want to know

11.

“Upset is probably the wrong word. But most of us find it emotionally difficult. I found it most difficult with young children and preschool-age children. You may find this strange, but for me, cadaveric preservation was not the most difficult task. It is somewhat technical. I could usually go into that ‘technician’ mode and just do what had to be done. What I found difficult was dressing a young child’s body. I could do it well, of course, but I think wrapping these lifeless but slightly resistant hands in this shirt, maybe a pullover, was similar to the struggle I had dressing my own children a few years ago, which broke the boundary of ‘professional detachment’ and I had very little recourse to defend myself.”

“What consistently helped in this and all the more unpleasant tasks (and in some ways beyond the merely unpleasant) was to see it as fulfilling the calling to ‘bear one another’s burdens.’ I could deal with this external difficulty in order to save parents time to do their own, more difficult, internal work.

If I ever get to the point where it becomes ineffective, then it will be time for me to quit and find something I can do honestly.”

,R. Eric S., Quora