Prof. Ryan Blumenthal
Blumenthal. Ryan, MBChB (Pret), MMed (Med Forens) Pret, FC For Path (SA) Dip For Med (SA) PhD (Wits) Senior specialist forensic pathologist and associate professor at the University of Pretoria’s Department of Forensic Medicine.
His chief field of interest is the pathology of trauma of lightning (keraunopathology). Lightning medicine forms part of wilderness medicine. Wilderness medicine is about providing emergency care
in remote settings. Wilderness medicine is important when considering climate change and the impact global weather systems have on humans, especially in resource-limited and resource-depleted communities.
He has published widely in the fields of electrocution, suicide and other areas involving the pathology of trauma. His chief mission in life is to help advance Forensic Pathology Services both nationally and internationally. Blumenthal has published 35 articles in peer-reviewed Journals. He has contributed Chapters to five international textbooks. He has written four books for the public. He is currently an NRF-C2 rated scientist.
His book ‘Autopsy – Life in the trenches with a forensic pathologist from Africa’ (Jonathan Ball Publishers) launched August 2020 became a non-fiction best-seller in South Africa. It is currently in its seventh print and is being translated into Russian.
His eight-part documentary “Lightning Pathologist” (Channel 180 DSTV) aired 9 November 2020 to 20 November 2020, and was viewed by over 2.2 million people.
Prof Ryan Blumenthal has contributed the lightning and electrothermal chapters in the following textbooks:
- Blumenthal, R. Chapter 43. Forensic Perspectives in Electrical Fatality Cases: Guidelines for Investigators. In: Medical and Bioengineering Aspects of Electrical Injuries. Editors: Raymond M. Fish. Leslie A. Geddes. Lawyers & Judges Publishing Company, Inc. ISBN 1930056-08-7. Pages 509 – 512.
- Cooper, M.A., Holle, R.A., Andrews, C.J., Blumenthal, R. Chapter 3. In: Auerbach’s Wilderness Medicine Textbook – Sixth Edition. Edited by Paul S. Auerbach. ISBN 978-14377-1678-9. Contributed: Lightning Scene Investigation pages 68- 72. Contributed: Lightning Explosive Barotrauma pages 100-101.
- Blumenthal, R. Chapter 24. Electrocution and Lightning. In: The Handbook of Forensic Medicine. Editor: Burkhard Madea. Released April 2014. Publisher: John Wiley and Sons Ltd. ISBN: 978-0-470-97999-0. 1312 pages. Wiley-Blackwell. Pages 477-487.
- Cooper, M.A., Holle, R.A., Andrews, C.J., Blumenthal, R., Aldana, N.N. Chapter 5. In: Auerbach’s Wilderness Medicine Textbook – Seventh Edition. Edited by Paul S. Auerbach. ISBN: 978-0-323-35942-9. Wiley-Blackwell. Pages 71-117.
- Handbook of Forensic Medicine, 3 Volume Set, 2nd Edition. Burkhard Madea (Editor). ISBN: 978-1-119-64855-0 August 2022 1776 Pages. Chapter 25. Electrocution and Lightning. Pages 639-662.
- The Encyclopedia of Forensic Sciences – third edition – 2023.
