Pathology/Biology
Although forensic pathologists cannot perform all of the
miracles seen on television shows such as "Quincy," "Law
and Order," and “Crossing Jordan," it is an interesting
and exciting field and is becoming a more popular and competitive
career choice.
Pathology is a medical specialty — the study of disease.
Pathologists study disease by performing a type of surgery
called an autopsy and examining the tissues removed, and
by observing surgically removed specimens under the microscope.
Analysis of fluids taken from the body, such as blood or
urine, also provides information about disease to the pathologist.
Forensic histotechnologist preparing
tissue
for microscopic slide examination.
Forensic pathology is the application of the principles
of pathology, and of medicine in general, to the legal needs
of society. Forensic pathologists perform autopsies to determine
what caused a person's death. They are also involved in
the investigation of the circumstances surrounding the death.
Knowing about these circumstances allows them to determine
the manner of death — natural, accident, suicide, homicide,
or undetermined.
Attending and resident pathologists
at weekly
Neuropathology Conference.
Although there is much emphasis on violent deaths (deaths
due to homicide, accident, or suicide), forensic pathologists
also investigate sudden deaths of apparently healthy individuals
(those not currently being treated for a disease which could
account for the sudden death), the death of someone who
has never seen a doctor (unattended), deaths occurring in
policy custody, suspicious or unusual deaths, deaths that
may be the result of surgical or diagnostic procedure which
could be a therapeutic misadventure, or some deaths which
occur in public institutions. The law of the specific jurisdiction
where the death occurs determines which deaths must be reported
to the medical examiner (often a forensic pathologist) or,
in some states, the coroner. Then it is the responsibility
of the medical examiner or coroner to determine if an autopsy
is necessary to determine the cause and manner of death.
