When a death takes place in suspicious circumstances, the body transitions from being somebody to an object which is of legal as well as social value. A key investigatory process is that of the forensic autopsy, carried out by a Home Office Registered Forensic Pathologist (HORFP). This article draws upon empirical data from research involving HORFPs to examine their identity and the meaning they assign to the deceased body. I argue that HORFP’s understanding of the value of the deceased body constantly shifts due to the multifaceted nature of their role. I explain this by drawing upon a legal embodiment framework. The HORFPs have to balance a legal context which demands objective ‘facts’ and formal labels with emotionally difficult cases and the impact of their work on the bereaved. I challenge the dichotomy between dualism and embodiment, arguing that there is not an oppositional choice between ‘science’ and recognition of the symbolic value of the corpse, but rather that these views can coexist while serving different functions that are central to a HORFP’s role.

中文翻译：

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犯罪客体：尸体、具身和法医病理学

当死亡发生在可疑情况下时，身体就会从某人转变为具有法律和社会价值的客体。一个关键的调查过程是法医尸检，由内政部注册法医病理学家 (HORFP) 进行。本文利用涉及 HORFP 的研究的经验数据来检查他们的身份以及他们赋予死者尸体的意义。我认为，由于其角色的多方面性质，HORFP 对死者尸体价值的理解不断变化。我通过利用法律实施框架来解释这一点。HORFP 必须在需要客观“事实”和正式标签的法律背景与情感困难的案件及其工作对死者的影响之间取得平衡。我挑战二元论和具身性之间的二分法，