FORENSIC PATHOLOGY
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(Redirected from Forensic pathologist)
'Forensic pathology' is a branch of medicine concerned with determining cause of death, usually for criminal law cases and civil law cases in some jurisdictions. The word forensics is derived from the Latin ''forēnsis'' meaning ''public'' or ''forum''. The word ''pathology'' literally means ''study of disease''.
''The Forensic pathologist'':
★ Is a qualified medical doctor who has completed training in anatomical pathology and who has subsequently sub-specialized in forensic pathology. 'Fully qualified' forensic pathologists are individuals who, for example, are certified by the American Board of Pathology ("board-certified") (United States) or who are eligible for inclusion on the specialist register of the General Medical Council (GMC) having obtained Membership of the Royal College of Pathologists (United Kingdom).
★ Performs autopsies/ post mortem examinations to determine the cause of death (such as a bullet wound to the head, exsanguination, strangulation, etc.) and (in the USA) the 'manner of death' (for example homicide, accident, natural, suicide or undetermined). The autopsy also provides an opportunity for other issues raised by the death to be addressed, such as the identity of the deceased etc.
★ Examines wounds and injuries.
★ Examines tissue specimens under the microscope histology in order to identify the presence or absence of natural disease, as well as to determine the 'age' of wounds and injuries etc.
★ Interprets toxicological analyses on bodily tissues and fluids to determine e.g. overdoses or deliberate poisonings.
★ Forensic pathologists also work closely with the medico-legal authority for the area concerned with the investigation of sudden and unexpected deaths i.e. the coroner (England and Wales), Procurator Fiscal (Scotland) or Coroner or medical examiner (United States).
★ Serves as an expert witness in courts of law testifying in civil or criminal law cases.
In an Autopsy, he /she is often assisted by an autopsy/mortuary technician (sometimes called a Diener in the USA).
Forensic physicans (sometimes referred to as 'Forensic Medical Examiners' or 'Police Surgeons' (in the UK until recently)) are medical doctors trained in the examination of, and provision of medical treatment to, living victims of assault (including sexual assault) and those individuals who find themselves in police custody. Many forensic physicians in the UK practice clinical forensic medicine on a part-time basis, whilst they also practice family medicine, or another medical specialty.
Deaths that are not considered natural are investigated. In some jurisdictions this is done by a ''coroner'' and in others by a ''medical examiner''.
In some jurisdictions, the title of "Medical Examiner" is used by non-physician, elected officials involved in medicolegal death investigation. In others, the title is reserved exclusively for physicians that are appointed.
Similarly, the title "Coroner" is applied to both physicians and non-physicians. Historically, coroners were not all physicians. However, in some jurisdictions the title of "Coroner" is exclusively used by physicians.
In Canada, coroners are licensed physicians, usually family physicians.[1][2]
In the United States, a coroner, typically, is an elected public official, in a particular geographic jurisdiction, who investigates and certifies deaths. The vast majority of coroners lack a Doctor of Medicine degree and the amount of medical training that they have received is highly variable, depending on their profession (e.g. law enforcement, judges, funeral directors, firefighters, nurses).
In contrast, a medical examiner, typically, is a physician who holds the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Ideally, a medical examiner has completed both a pathology residency (medicine) and a fellowship in forensic pathology.
He or she may also be board certified by the American Board of Pathology in Anatomic and Forensic Pathology. This entails passing separate examinations in anatomic pathology and forensic pathology. To be eligible for the American Board of Pathology's board examinations, a candidate must demonstrate that he or she has completed training in anatomic pathology and forensic pathology at programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.
Forensic pathology was first recognized in the USA by the American Board of Pathology in 1959.[3]
Forensic pathology is a subspecialty of anatomical pathology and typically one year of additional training (a fellowship), that is completed after becoming a licensed anatomical pathologist. Becoming an anatomical pathologist requires completing a four or five year residency in anatomical pathology, which is something one does on completing medical school. In Canada[4] and UK, anatomical pathology is a five year residency. In the US, ''anatomic pathology'' (as it is called), is a four year residency.
In the United States, all told, the education after high school is typically 13 years in duration (4 years undergraduate training + 4 years medical school + 4 years residency (in anatomical pathology) + 1 year forensic pathology fellowship). Generally, the biggest hurdle is gaining admission to medical school.
1. The Coroner System. USW. http://www.usw.ca/program/content/3179.php. Accessed on: June 7, 2007.
2. Coroners' law resource. King's College London. http://www.kcl.ac.uk/depsta/law/research/coroners/canada.html. Accessed on: June 7, 2007.
3. The forensic pathology specialty certifications, Eckert WG, , , The American journal of forensic medicine and pathology : official publication of the National Association of Medical Examiners, 1988
4. Residency Training Programs. Dalhousie University. URL: http://pathology.medicine.dal.ca/anatomical.html. Accessed on: June 7, 2007.
★ National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME)
★ American Academy of Forensic Sciences
★ Forensic Science Society
★ British Association in Forensic Medicine
★ British Association for Human Identification
★ British Academy of Forensic Science
★ Forensic Medicine Wiki Project
★ Forensic Medicine for Medical Students - a website providing educational resources in forensic medicine
★ So, you want to be a forensic scientist? - Simon Fraser University.
★ When I grow up: becoming a pathologist by G. William Moore, MD, PhD. - netautopsy.org.
★ What is a Pathologist? - a perspective from UK pathologist Fraser Charlton.
★ Forensic science
★ Coroner
★ Forensics
★ Spitz and Fisher’s Medicolegal Investigation of Death – Guidelines for the application of pathology to crime investigation’, 4th Edition, Spitz WU (Editor), 2006 Charles C Thomas Publisher Ltd, Springfield Illinois ISBN 0398075441
★ ‘The Hospital Autopsy’, Burton J and Rutty G (Ed)(2nd Ed), 2001 ISBN 0 340 764201 Arnold Publishers
★ 'Knight's Forensic Pathology',(3rd Ed) Saukko P. and B. Knight (2004) ISBN 0-340-76044-3
'Forensic pathology' is a branch of medicine concerned with determining cause of death, usually for criminal law cases and civil law cases in some jurisdictions. The word forensics is derived from the Latin ''forēnsis'' meaning ''public'' or ''forum''. The word ''pathology'' literally means ''study of disease''.
Scope of Forensic Pathology
''The Forensic pathologist'':
★ Is a qualified medical doctor who has completed training in anatomical pathology and who has subsequently sub-specialized in forensic pathology. 'Fully qualified' forensic pathologists are individuals who, for example, are certified by the American Board of Pathology ("board-certified") (United States) or who are eligible for inclusion on the specialist register of the General Medical Council (GMC) having obtained Membership of the Royal College of Pathologists (United Kingdom).
★ Performs autopsies/ post mortem examinations to determine the cause of death (such as a bullet wound to the head, exsanguination, strangulation, etc.) and (in the USA) the 'manner of death' (for example homicide, accident, natural, suicide or undetermined). The autopsy also provides an opportunity for other issues raised by the death to be addressed, such as the identity of the deceased etc.
★ Examines wounds and injuries.
★ Examines tissue specimens under the microscope histology in order to identify the presence or absence of natural disease, as well as to determine the 'age' of wounds and injuries etc.
★ Interprets toxicological analyses on bodily tissues and fluids to determine e.g. overdoses or deliberate poisonings.
★ Forensic pathologists also work closely with the medico-legal authority for the area concerned with the investigation of sudden and unexpected deaths i.e. the coroner (England and Wales), Procurator Fiscal (Scotland) or Coroner or medical examiner (United States).
★ Serves as an expert witness in courts of law testifying in civil or criminal law cases.
In an Autopsy, he /she is often assisted by an autopsy/mortuary technician (sometimes called a Diener in the USA).
Forensic physicans (sometimes referred to as 'Forensic Medical Examiners' or 'Police Surgeons' (in the UK until recently)) are medical doctors trained in the examination of, and provision of medical treatment to, living victims of assault (including sexual assault) and those individuals who find themselves in police custody. Many forensic physicians in the UK practice clinical forensic medicine on a part-time basis, whilst they also practice family medicine, or another medical specialty.
Investigation of death
Deaths that are not considered natural are investigated. In some jurisdictions this is done by a ''coroner'' and in others by a ''medical examiner''.
Terminology is not consistent across jurisdictions
In some jurisdictions, the title of "Medical Examiner" is used by non-physician, elected officials involved in medicolegal death investigation. In others, the title is reserved exclusively for physicians that are appointed.
Similarly, the title "Coroner" is applied to both physicians and non-physicians. Historically, coroners were not all physicians. However, in some jurisdictions the title of "Coroner" is exclusively used by physicians.
Canadian coroners
In Canada, coroners are licensed physicians, usually family physicians.[1][2]
Coroners and medical examiner in the US
In the United States, a coroner, typically, is an elected public official, in a particular geographic jurisdiction, who investigates and certifies deaths. The vast majority of coroners lack a Doctor of Medicine degree and the amount of medical training that they have received is highly variable, depending on their profession (e.g. law enforcement, judges, funeral directors, firefighters, nurses).
In contrast, a medical examiner, typically, is a physician who holds the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Ideally, a medical examiner has completed both a pathology residency (medicine) and a fellowship in forensic pathology.
He or she may also be board certified by the American Board of Pathology in Anatomic and Forensic Pathology. This entails passing separate examinations in anatomic pathology and forensic pathology. To be eligible for the American Board of Pathology's board examinations, a candidate must demonstrate that he or she has completed training in anatomic pathology and forensic pathology at programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.
History in United States
Forensic pathology was first recognized in the USA by the American Board of Pathology in 1959.[3]
Becoming a forensic pathologist
Forensic pathology is a subspecialty of anatomical pathology and typically one year of additional training (a fellowship), that is completed after becoming a licensed anatomical pathologist. Becoming an anatomical pathologist requires completing a four or five year residency in anatomical pathology, which is something one does on completing medical school. In Canada[4] and UK, anatomical pathology is a five year residency. In the US, ''anatomic pathology'' (as it is called), is a four year residency.
In the United States, all told, the education after high school is typically 13 years in duration (4 years undergraduate training + 4 years medical school + 4 years residency (in anatomical pathology) + 1 year forensic pathology fellowship). Generally, the biggest hurdle is gaining admission to medical school.
References
1. The Coroner System. USW. http://www.usw.ca/program/content/3179.php. Accessed on: June 7, 2007.
2. Coroners' law resource. King's College London. http://www.kcl.ac.uk/depsta/law/research/coroners/canada.html. Accessed on: June 7, 2007.
3. The forensic pathology specialty certifications, Eckert WG, , , The American journal of forensic medicine and pathology : official publication of the National Association of Medical Examiners, 1988
4. Residency Training Programs. Dalhousie University. URL: http://pathology.medicine.dal.ca/anatomical.html. Accessed on: June 7, 2007.
External links
★ National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME)
★ American Academy of Forensic Sciences
★ Forensic Science Society
★ British Association in Forensic Medicine
★ British Association for Human Identification
★ British Academy of Forensic Science
★ Forensic Medicine Wiki Project
★ Forensic Medicine for Medical Students - a website providing educational resources in forensic medicine
Becoming a pathologist
★ So, you want to be a forensic scientist? - Simon Fraser University.
★ When I grow up: becoming a pathologist by G. William Moore, MD, PhD. - netautopsy.org.
★ What is a Pathologist? - a perspective from UK pathologist Fraser Charlton.
See also
★ Forensic science
★ Coroner
★ Forensics
Further reading
★ Spitz and Fisher’s Medicolegal Investigation of Death – Guidelines for the application of pathology to crime investigation’, 4th Edition, Spitz WU (Editor), 2006 Charles C Thomas Publisher Ltd, Springfield Illinois ISBN 0398075441
★ ‘The Hospital Autopsy’, Burton J and Rutty G (Ed)(2nd Ed), 2001 ISBN 0 340 764201 Arnold Publishers
★ 'Knight's Forensic Pathology',(3rd Ed) Saukko P. and B. Knight (2004) ISBN 0-340-76044-3
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