![]() ![]() ![]() The scene investigation may disclose drugs or toxins which may be related to the cause of death. ![]() The history is the beginning of the investigation and is of utmost importance in making the determination of cause of death. How does the forensic pathologist use the history, external physical examination, autopsy and laboratory studies to determine the cause and manner of death? Coroners, medical examiners and pathologists provide copies of their official reports to parties, such as insurers or public agencies, having a legitimate interest in the cause and manner of death of citizens. The forensic pathologist can expect to be subpoenaed to testify before courts and other tribunals about the pathologic findings and conclusions. A report is then prepared summarizing these findings. When all of the information including the history, the results of the autopsy and the laboratory tests are completed, the forensic pathologist correlates all the information and draws conclusions as to the cause and manner of death. Autopsyĭuring the course of the autopsy, various laboratory tests may be undertaken, including x-rays, retention of body fluids such as blood and urine and small samples of tissues such as liver or brain for toxicological analysis and cultures of body fluids and organs for evidence of infection. This postmortem examination is known as an autopsy. Next, the forensic pathologist examines the body externally and then internally taking small samples of tissues to examine under the microscope for abnormal changes not visible to the naked eye. To become certified, one then must pass an examination given by the American Board of Pathology certifying special competence in forensic pathology.įorensic pathologists practice medicine in the finest tradition of preventive medicine and public health by making the study of the dead benefit the living.Īs a physician who specializes in the investigation of sudden, unexpected and violent deaths the forensic pathologist attempts to determine the identification of the deceased, the time of death, the manner of death (natural, accident, suicide or homicide) the cause of death and if the death was by injury, the nature of the instrument used to cause the death.įirst, the forensic pathologist gathers a history as to how the death occurred and often obtains the past medical history of the deceased as well. The forensic pathology resident actually performs autopsies and participates in death investigation. The residency training in forensic pathology involves practical (on-the-job) experience supervised by trained forensic pathologists. Alternatively the program might consist of anatomic pathology, clinical pathology (laboratory medicine) and forensic pathology (5 years) or anatomic pathology (2 years), forensic pathology (one year) and one year of neuropathology, toxicology or a related field. One may spend three years in anatomic pathology (hospital pathology) followed by one year of training in forensic pathology. degree.Īfter medical school there are several routes by which one may become a forensic pathologist. After undergraduate school the aspiring forensic pathologist spends 4 years in medical school, earning an M.D.After high school the future forensic pathologist attends college for 4 years and receives a bachelor’s degree.In jurisdictions where there are medical examiner systems, forensic pathologists are usually employed to perform autopsies to determine cause and manner of death. When forensic pathologists are employed as death investigators they bring their expertise to bear upon the interpretation of the scene of death, in the assessment of the time of death, of the consistency of witnesses’ statements with injuries, and the interpretation of injury patterns or patterned injuries. The forensic pathologist acts as the case coordinator for the medical and forensic scientific assessment of a given death, making sure that the appropriate procedures and evidence collection techniques are applied to the body. Other areas of science that the forensic pathologist must have a working knowledge of toxicology, firearms examination (wound ballistics), trace evidence, forensic serology and DNA technology. Trainingįorensic pathologists are trained in multiple forensic sciences as well as traditional medicine. The forensic pathologist is specially trained: to perform autopsies to determine the presence or absence of disease, injury or poisoning to evaluate historical and law-enforcement investigative information relating to manner of death to collect medical evidence, such as trace evidence and secretions, to document sexual assault and to reconstruct how a person received injuries. ![]() The forensic pathologist is an expert in determining cause and manner of death. The forensic pathologist is a subspecialist in pathology whose area of special competence is the examination of persons who die suddenly, unexpectedly or violently. ![]()
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