Busy few weeks finalising the editing of the 3rd edition of the Encyclopedia of Forensic & Legal Medicine with Roger Byard.  It will be published in hard copy in December with 388 chapters in 4 volumes.

Margaret Stark, Mike Scott-Ham and I have also finished writing the 4th edition of Symptoms & Signs of Substance Use which will be published in Q1 of 2025.

Since 9th September the Medical Examiner system in England & Wales is now statutory meaning that every death in England & Wales will now be either scrutinised by a Medical Examiner or investigated by a Coroner. Medical Examiner services have been in place since 2019 and have developed over the last 5 years.  Medical Examiner services will be scrutinising almost 400, 000 deaths per annum from the community and acute hospitals.  Despite 5 years of preparation the increased workload has proven to be challenging but it is hoped that as the clinicians responsible for writing Medical Certificates of Cause of Death become familiar with the system, the service will work efficiently and effectively.  The teamwork from the Medical Examiners and Medical Examiners Officers at NNUH is incredible with support from the Regional Medical Examiner team (generally undertaken via Teams).

Have just completed my annual series of lectures on forensic & legal medicine at Queen Mary University of London for the MSc in Forensic Medical Sciences.   The teaching is split between Charterhouse Square and Barts Hospital. It’s always fascinating to talk to the range of students who may come from backgrounds including medical, scientific (forensic and other) and psychology.  Their different perspectives on the same subjects are always enlightening.

A minor recent diversion was to the Shetland Islands to revisit Whalsay an island on which may father was a GP locum many decades ago.  It was good to meet (retired) islanders who recalled the ‘doctor from the mainland’.

Of course it wasn’t possible to visit the Shetland Islands without visiting scenes from ‘Shetland’ and to visit DI Jimmy Perez’ home and to see some of the beautiful parts of the Islands.

A quick couple of trips to Belfast to undertake some clinical work and to catch up events with the tragic case of Noah Donohoe. The previous Coroner has recused himself from the investigation and the inquest has now been deferred to next year, prolonging matters for Fiona (Noah’s mother) and her family.

Despite having been in Iceland and having missed the Northern lights it was a great surprise and delight to see the aurora in deepest, darkest Essex in October captured below.

For fans of Slow Horses was walking down Aldersgate Street and saw the Slough House offices, no sign of Jackson Lamb on this occasion.

Assorted court cases including trip to Cardiff Crown Court for an attempt murder case.

Assorted meeting related to the European Council of Legal & Forensic Medicine and working towards developing monospecialty recognition.  Re-branding from the European Council of Legal Medicine following changes of statutes at the General Assembly earlier this year, including revision of the ECLM website.

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