Forensic Science International: Synergy (Jan 2021)
Increasing engagement of forensic pathologists with the public on social media: Could there be room for live broadcasts?
Abstract
In order to protect decedent privacy and to avoid the gratuitous use of photographs of death scenes and injuries by non-practitioners, professional meetings of forensic pathologists are never broadcast live to an audience beyond immediate conference attendees. However there may be topics of general interest which do not require censorship and to which outside viewers could be invited. Given the COVID19 pandemic and the need for virtual conferencing, it may be time to reconsider lifting this restriction for certain subject matter. Several platforms exist for live social media broadcasts which enable the broadcaster to exercise direct control over their content without having to go through an intermediary. When fully exploited, these live broadcasts could be of considerable value as another vehicle with which to educate the public about forensic pathology, an opportunity to promote forensic research and most important a recruiting tool to address critical manpower shortages.
