In
the home of drive-by shootings, the sight of a white van with the logo
"1-800-AUTOPSY" is hardly comforting. But for Vidal Herrera, it pays to
advertise. After 14 years as an autopsy technician and investigator with
the Los Angeles County coroner’s office, Herrera’s career was cut short
in 1984 when he injured his back trying to life a body. Unable to find
steady employment, he started his business, Autopsy/Post Services, in 1988.
"I never dreamed I would go back into the body business," says Herrera,.
"But I had no choice." It turned out to e a master stroke: from humble
beginnings, Autopsy/Post now has four full-time employees and performs
between 500 and 600 autopsies a year. Herrera says that $2,500 private
autopsies, mostly for families seeking second opinions or considering malpractice
suits, account for 20 per cent of this business. He also performs tissue
procurements for the UCLA medical school-"That could be anywhere from 300
to 500 additional bodies, where I’ll go out and remove brains, or livers
or kidneys, pancreases, legs, arms, whatever is needed." Business is up
50 per cent since last year, when he started his one-van ad campaign and
Herrera now plans to franchise nationally. "It’s a very exciting business
that nobody really thinks about," he says. "But you know, everybody’s going
to die."
In
the home of drive-by shootings, the sight of a white van with the logo
"1-800-AUTOPSY" is hardly comforting. But for Vidal Herrera, it pays to
advertise. After 14 years as an autopsy technician and investigator with
the Los Angeles County coroner’s office, Herrera’s career was cut short
in 1984 when he injured his back trying to life a body. Unable to find
steady employment, he started his business, Autopsy/Post Services, in 1988.
"I never dreamed I would go back into the body business," says Herrera,.
"But I had no choice." It turned out to e a master stroke: from humble
beginnings, Autopsy/Post now has four full-time employees and performs
between 500 and 600 autopsies a year. Herrera says that $2,500 private
autopsies, mostly for families seeking second opinions or considering malpractice
suits, account for 20 per cent of this business. He also performs tissue
procurements for the UCLA medical school-"That could be anywhere from 300
to 500 additional bodies, where I’ll go out and remove brains, or livers
or kidneys, pancreases, legs, arms, whatever is needed." Business is up
50 per cent since last year, when he started his one-van ad campaign and
Herrera now plans to franchise nationally. "It’s a very exciting business
that nobody really thinks about," he says. "But you know, everybody’s going
to die."