The profession of mortuary attendant

Forensic medicine in France is divided into two areas of activity: forensic units (UMJ), where living forensic medicine is carried out (examining victims, establishing injuries), and forensic institutes (IML). The latter handle thanatological procedures (autopsies) with a view to investigation (identifying the cause of death, identity of the corpse). In sociology, Romain Juston-Morival (2020) focused on forensic pathologists at UMJs. In psychology, Léa Boursier (2021, 2023) focused on MLI forensic pathologists. One population has been identified by researchers but has not received any specific attention: mortuary room attendants. They form an unexpected population in the sociology of professional groups: with a nursing auxiliary diploma (a state diploma obtained after validation of a year's post-baccalaureate training at the Institut de Formation des Professionnels de Santé), they assist the forensic pathologists during autopsies. The latter consider them to be "their right-hand man" (Boursier, 2023), whereas orderlies are usually invisible hospital staff, as A.M. Arborio (2001) puts it. In addition to the tasks usually assigned to them, which involve "soiling" (Douglas, 2001), from preparing bodies for mortuary care to hygiene and maintenance work, such as removing bio-waste and cleaning the premises, their work involves practices at the intersection of relational work, in welcoming and accompanying the families of the deceased, and medical work, in assisting forensic pathologists. The singularity of the workplace makes it essential to analyze the emotional work involved (Hochschild, 2003) and the ways in which the activity is resisted (Molinier, 2006). Perhaps we need to remember that dying is not the same as being dead (Baudry, 2004), and that only funeral rituals can bring about this transformation. This places the work carried out in IML in a liminal time (Turner, 1990) when the person who has just died is still present in his or her body. This would explain the many signs of attention shown to a corpse that is not an object: from stroking the hair to words of apology when technical gestures are invasive or not carried out properly, to questions or remarks addressed to the corpse. In the words of Marie-Christine Pouchelle (2003), there are more than bodies and techniques at the morgue. So, who becomes a mortuary attendant, and how? The approach will be comprehensive, based on qualitative data collection. Some forty semi-structured, in-depth interviews will be conducted with mortuary attendants, as well as with other professionals working in the mortuary (health executive, doctor, thanatopractor, etc.). While interviews will enable us to grasp what the players say about what they do, this method will benefit from being supplemented by in situ observation to see what the players actually do. These observations will enable us to grasp the interactions in act during collaborations at work, to see the work in the making.

Under the direction of Florent SCHEPENS.

Link to theses.fr: https://theses.fr/s397972