Book Recommendation: American Autopsy by Michael M. Baden

George Floyd.

OJ Simpson.

Medgar Evers.

These names should be in the public's collective memory as significant challenges to the racial prejudice in the US legal system. The author of American Autopsy, Dr. Michael M. Baden, has taken part in all of these high-profile trials by examining the victims' bodies and determining their causes of deaths. In his memoir, Dr. Baden documents his evolution from a naive, optimistic forensic pathologist who thought the police could do no wrong, to the realization that racism and politics play a major role in policing and prosecuting. He points out flaws in the role medical examiners play in the US legal system, as well as the potential for corruption and biases.

I'm normally not a huge fan of memoirs, because they tend to sound a bit self-absorbed and one-sided. However, American Autopsy is one of the exceptions. Although I was not familiar with Dr. Baden before I read his book, I was familar with some of the high-profile cases he examined, like Eric Garner, who died from police use of a chokehold tactic in 2014. Unfortunately, there are countless other cases like Garner's, some of which are documented in American Autopsy as Baden records his decades-long career as a forensic pathologist.

Dr. Baden also brings to light racist terminology like "excited delirium" and how medical examiners use these terms to "explain away" or cover-up police brutality and in-custody deaths, rather than properly seeking out the truth and prosecuting those who deserve it. Without an expert's input like Baden, many of these practices would remain under wraps, making this memoir not only important, but vital in the search for social justice. He raises important questions regarding his profession: how does politicizing the role of medical examiner affect the outcomes of autopsies? What role does racial bias play in the medical world? And more importantly, what steps can we take to fix it?

This memoir shows the intersectionality of the medical world with the legal, something I feel is often overlooked. Baden illustrates the importance of an independent medical examiner in the legal system by providing contrasts between the findings of examiners who are politically pressured to cover up police brutality and those who are dedicated to the science, like himself. His compelling storytelling keeps readers' attention while also being informative. Dr. Baden weaves his personal story and the well-known cases he has been involved in with expert skill, detailing his emotions and inner turmoil as he comes to grips with the fact the legal system is far from perfect.

I would recommend this book to any fans of true crime, aspiring doctors (Baden originally wanted to be an internal medicine specialist and also spent some time working both as an internist and a forensic pathologist), aspiring activists, and anyone who's looking for insight on how we can improve our legal system. You can find this book on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Let me know if you read this book, and your thoughts on it!