Dr. G: Medical Examiner

Initially, I couldn't watch this show due to the graphic nature and heavy topic. But as I watched a few more, it became almost an educational show for me. It's fascinating to realize just how fragile life is and the simple ways lack of health or exposure to accidents, assaults, or toxins can change the trajectory of life on a dime.

Dr. G is one of those one-in-a-million people who works in a niche industry and has the ability to relate her findings in a way that is articulate and personable. I have to wonder whose idea it was to produce such a show and imagine NCIS's Ducky may have had some influence. Her high-pitched vocalizing isn't always easy on the ears but in many ways she feels like someone we might know and trust.

They drag it out quite a bit as most reality shows do - could it be this; could it be that; who is to blame... But most times the answer is a surprise to the viewer.

I'll glad they don't actually show the dead bodies and autopsies, that would be too graphic. The reenactments are sufficiently difficult to watch. As well, there are laws against showing dead bodies on tv and to get permission would mean going through a lengthy process per autopsy.

But for those saying the family photos are actors - you're wrong about that. In the show itself, there is a tag when it's a reenactment that says Dramatization. Everything else is actual.

Not all MEs are responsive. When my mother died of cancer, the COD said the cause was complications of a pelvic fracture with secondary cause being cancer. This puzzled me for years and I never got a response from the very young ME. I've read that cancer deaths are hidden under secondary causes, which I still believe and believe that's what happened to my mother. But in one episode where Dr. G explains how elderly who break hips can have a series of events from it, I was able to understand why the rookie ME put that as COD. However, my mother was ravaged by late stage pancreatic cancer (or more specifically, theradiation destryed her insides) and had just days to live when she created an unexpected situation for herself by trying to walk over to adjust a small heater. She slipped in her socks and fractured her pelvis. While the hospice nurse called the emergency doctor, my mother called a neighbor for sympathy who misunderstood and thought she was home alone and needed help. They called 911 and the police were the1st responders who thought she was immaciated from neglect and rushed her to the hospital where they treated her only for the fracture. By the time we got her back, she lived for only 3 more hours. We had just gotten her back from a hospice facilty so she could die at home - her request - when this happened. It made me understand fully why some families opt to not have medical personnel involved at all when they know they have a fatal illness.

Any hoo, I've learned a lot from Dr G and find it one of the most unique shows ever. She humanizes the process.

I love her enthusiasm to finding solutions, but almost none of what you see is real. Even family pics and such are with actors. I don't need to see the autopsy, but actually seeing pictures of victims and being able to see facial expressions and body language is something I value in crime shows. I am absolutely fine with reenactment, but photos? Really?

This is an excellent reality show. It outlines many cases that a forensic pathologist has encountered in her career. The program first gives accounts of the deceased person's life and what lead up to his or her death. Then, Dr. Garavaglia demonstrates to the viewer the possible reasons for the death and how she will go about discovering the cause of death. She will then demonstrate some of what she does such as weighing internal organs or taking photographs during the autopsy. At the end of each case, the program replays what happened to the deceased that led to his or her death once the cause of death is discovered by the medical examiner. Each program usually illustrates a couple of deaths. Many times the names have been changed as well as the actual people involved. Sometimes they reenact the autopsy but sometimes they show an actual autopsy with the face, sexual parts, and injuries blurred. It is interesting and informative. If you are a fan of forensic programs such as the CSI shows but want reality instead of fiction, this is the show for you! If you like some of the crime documentaries such as Forensic Files, Cold Case Files, American Justice, and the like, you will probably like this show as well.

It takes a rare special person to be able to do what needs to be done after someone passes. I know I couldn't handle it and have tremendous respect for those who can. Additionally, to seem be able to find that balance of clinical facts about each case and be compassionate about each person and their family members is exceptionally rare. Then to have the confidence, bravery and will to fight for what's right and be able to articulate it so well was just a special find. Dr. G is just now on my radar as my youngest is now in college. As I enter semi retired life and find out she has retired, I can only hope she has inspired many others to follow her example. Those of us who cannot reconcile the passing of those close to us and entrust our loved ones to local MEs can only hope.

'Dr. G. Medical Examiner' is a departure from fictitious medical examiner shows, like 'Quincy' and 'Crossing Jordan'. Dr. Garavaglia showcases a part of the medical examiner's office these other shows leave out--the accidental and natural deaths that come through the office.

No, not everyone who needs the M.E. to sign them out of this life died violently, and, unlike what the fictitious shows portray, it is not the M.E.'s job to play detective, but to give cause and manner of death. I find it fascinating the work the investigators do to pull the deceased's medical records from family members and the examinations Dr. G. does in an individualized manner. The normal functions and processes of various organs/organ systems of the body are shown, followed by what went wrong with the heart/neurological system/etc. of the decedants who are examined by Dr. G. She compassionately explains what happened to their loved ones at the end. This is a recommended watch of the post mortem examination done compassionately.