What is forensic pathology?
Forensic pathology is the study of evidence from an unexpected or suspicious cause of death. A forensic pathologist uses medical knowledge applied to legal problems to investigate and evaluate causes of death. The forensic pathologist can also act as the coroner or medical examiner, or can perform a medical and legal autopsy for those officials.
Pathology is a medical specialty concerned with the study of disease. The main way pathologists study disease is by conducting an autopsy i.e. a comprehensive surgical examination of the deceased. By definition, therefore, forensic pathology primarily relates to the study of disease within a legal context. What Does A Forensic pathologist Do? The roles and responsibilities of the forensic pathologist include: • Determining cause of death • Forensic examination of the body (external/internal/clothing) • Identifying absense/presence of disease from tissue samples • Examining post mortem wounds & Injuries • Collaborative evidence collection e.g. blood, hair, semen samples passed to criminalists, toxicologists etc for specialist analysis • Collaborative investigation e.g. body identification work with forensic odontologists (dentists) and physical anthropologists. • Acting as an expert witness in civil/criminal proceedings Medical/Legal Authorities In respect of enquiries into suspicious,
