Forensic pathology is the study of disease and injury as it applies to legal matters. Forensic pathologists often conduct their studies through a procedure called autopsy. An autopsy is an external and internal examination of a dead body.
There are two main branches of forensic pathology. They are anatomic pathology and clinical pathology. Anatomic pathology deals with the study of tissues obtained from living or dead people. A forensic pathologist may perform an autopsy on a body to determine the cause of death. This procedure is usually done in cases where a death cannot be otherwise explained. Clinical pathology involves the collection and study of body fluids, such as blood or saliva. Laboratory analysis of these materials can help determine the cause of a death.
Legal officials may insist on an autopsy when a person’s death results from suicide, homicide, or unknown causes. Forensic pathologists may also gather other kinds of evidence from a crime scene to help determine the cause of a death. In some cases, experts can learn why someone died from a detailed review of medical records.
In the United States, the American Board of Pathology first recognized forensic pathology as a separate branch of medical pathology in 1959. Today, many countries require that a medical examiner or coroner be trained in forensic pathology.
See also Autopsy ; Forensic science ; Medical examiner ; Pathology .
