Forensic pathology
They collect and interpret toxicological specimens of body tissues and fluids to determine the chemical cause of accidental overdoses or deliberate poisonings.
Forensic pathologists work closely with the medico-legal authority for the area concerned with the investigation of sudden and unexpected deaths: the coroner (England and Wales), procurator fiscal (Scotland), or coroner or medical examiner (United States).
[3] The process of identification involves the recovery of the victims, the collection of antemortem data, the initial examination along with the collection of any postmortem evidence, and finally the comparison of the antemortem and postmortem data gathered in order to identify those victims.
In the United Kingdom, membership of the Royal College of Pathologists is not a prerequisite of appointment as a coroner's medical expert.
Forensic pathologists make great contributions to public health and preventative medicine by studying the dead.
In some jurisdictions, the title of "Medical Examiner" is used by a non-physician, elected official involved in a medicolegal death investigation.
Alberta and Nova Scotia are examples of ME systems[7][8] In the United States, a coroner is typically 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, emergency medical technicians, nurses).
In some jurisdictions, a medical examiner must be both a doctor and a lawyer, with additional training in forensic pathology.
The Virchow method is of doing autopsies as well as instituting cell theory which would shed light on the effects and damage of disease on the human body.
[9] In German-speaking Europe, lectures on forensic pathology were regularly held in Freiburg in the mid 18th century and Vienna in 1804.
Scientists like Auguste Ambroise Tardieu, Johann Ludwig Casper and Carl Liman made great efforts to develop forensic pathology into a science based on empirics.
While Zuhr was busy learning about contagious diseases, Yee Siung, a Chinese government official was assembling a group of physicians who were in charge of dissecting criminal murder victims.
The third section is another clinical period which lasts for two years, which practices non-surgical, surgical, neurological, ecological and general medicine domains.
Once individuals have completed their medical studies, there is a minimum of six extra years of specialization training for forensic pathology.
Then, at least one year of pathology work at a specialized institute is required partaking in autopsy technical training.
The majority of the specialists are attached to the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology in various medical colleges.
The work profile of the specialists includes conducting autopsies and clinical forensic examinations; apart from teaching the medical students.
Apart from this, clinical forensic examinations constitute a major part of the work and the number of cases can run up to ten thousand a year in an average institution.
Upon completion of the program, a forensic medicine specialist will obtain the title Spesialis Forensik, or Sp.F.
Note that there is no pre-medicine program, making the total duration of formal education for one to become a forensic specialist 9 years.
After completing their undergraduate career, it is then required for individuals to attend medical school to either earn their Masters or Doctorates degree.
After completing medical school, individuals are then required to have 2 years of mandatory postgraduate clinical education where they learn important clinical skills such as communication skills, common laboratory procedures such as Gram’s stain and urinalysis.
The department has been active forces in promoting the significance of forensic medicine through its innovative programs, research, and analysis.
Successful candidates are eligible for inclusion on the specialist register of the General Medical Council (GMC), which is a requirement to work as a consultant forensic pathologist.
Candidates are in year 3 of specialty training (ST3) when entering forensic histopathology and progress immediately to stage C. Completion of stages C and D, and a pass in the FRCPath Part 2 examination in forensic histopathology allow the candidate to apply for the Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT).
Currently approved centres for forensic pathology training in the UK include Belfast, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Leicester, Cardiff, London, Glasgow and Dundee.
Most U.S. pathologists complete a combined residency in both anatomic and clinical pathology, which requires a total of four years.
Generally, the biggest hurdle is gaining admission to medical school, although the pass rate for anatomic and forensic pathology board examinations (in the U.S.) is approximately 80-90 and 90-100 percent, respectively.
