hannan_forensic_pathology_unfinished

8/7/2019 hannan_forensic_pathology_unfinished

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1.0 INTRODUCTION : WORLD RECOGNITION

Brodrick Report :

According to the evidence received the basis of forensic pathology is the small

amount of work which, although it is carried out on behalf of the coroner, is

particularly the concern of the police. Every police force needs to be able to call

on the services of a specially experienced pathologist to help in the

investigation of murder and other serious crimes against the person. Ideally,

this person should be a pathologist with a sound training in morbid anatomy

who has added to this general knowledge some additional skills, most notably

the ability to detect , and give authoritative testimony about, unusual features of a dead body and the surrounding circumstances which may well be of

evidential value. He should be able to command the facilities of a well

equipped pathological laboratory , be readily available on call to police and

courts, and be prepared to travel at short notice anywhere in the area which

he serves .

Do the police need the services of a special kind of pathologist who can for the

most part be distinguished from a clinical pathologist in a hospital? Do coroners

need the services of the same kind of pathologist as the police ? Our answer to

both questions is an unequivocal


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2 .0 DEFINITION : PATHOLOGIST

P athology is the study and diagnosis of disease. The word pathology is from

Greek , pathos , "feeling, suffering"; and - , -logia , "the study of".

Pathologization , to pathologize, refers to the process of defining a condition or

behavior as pathological, e.g. pathological gambling. Pathologies is synonymous

with diseases. The suffix "path" is used to indicate a disease, e.g. psychopath.

Medical Pathology, Veterinary pathology and Phytopathology are the study of

anatomic, biochemical or microbiological diseases. The related scientific study of

disease processes is called general pathology. Psychopathology is the study of

psychological or mental diseases.

Medical pathology is divided into two main branches, Anatomical pathology

and Clinical pathology. Veterinary pathology is concerned with animal disease,

whereas phytopathology is the study of plant diseases.

Pathologists are biological or medical scientists who study the nature, causes,

and effects of disease in plant and animal life. Pathology is a broad field that

concentrates on the changes in organs, tissues, and cells that are caused by

disease.

Pathologists work in hospitals, medical laboratories, schools, colleges, and

universities. They may teach or do laboratory work or research. They are employed

by government agencies associated with agriculture, public health, law enforcement,

and many other fields. Private companies that make products such as drugs and

insecticides also employ pathologists.

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pathology )


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Pathologists concentrate on plant, animal, or human pathology. Although the

areas of study of these pathologists are very different, they are all scientists who

study disease. Pathology has been called the bridge between basic science and

medicine. Pathologists who are concerned with human disease are usually

physicians who have received specialized training in pathology. They are sometimes

called medical pathologists or are classified according to their subspecialty, such as

oral pathology.

Although medical pathologists do not treat patients of their own, they do

laboratory tests to diagnose disease in the patients of other physicians. They

perform tests on body tissues, secretions, and other specimens to see whether a

disease is present and to determine its stage. They evaluate the e xtent of the

disease, estimate the course it is likely to take, and suggest ways to treat the

disease. Surgeons may consult pathologists if they find unexpected problems duringan operation. Pathologists often stand by during surgery to test specimens taken

from a tumor in a patient's body. The patient may remain under anesthesia until the

pathologist can evaluate the specimens. Based on the pathologist's expert advice,

the surgeon is able to complete the operation in the way best suited to the patient's

condition.

Pathologists also do postmortem examinations to determine the cause of

death when the cause is unclear. They can evaluate the extent to which treatmenthad helped a patient. Pathologists' reports help physicians in their care of other

patients with similar conditions. Sometimes pathologists serve as medical examiners

or coroner's consultants. They determine the cause of death in accidents,

poisonings, and suspected murders. Pathologists coordinate and supervise the work

of medical laboratory technologists or technicians who prepare specimens or may

perform the more routine laboratory tests themselves. Pathologists often specialize

in one field, such as hematology (the study of the blood), blood banking,

neuropathology (diseases of the nervous system ), forensic (or legal) pathology,medical chemistry, medical microbiology, or radioisotopic pathology.


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Medical pathologists frequently teach students in schools and colleges that

train nurses, physicians, medical laboratory technologists, technicians, an d other

health care workers. They sometimes conduct seminars for physicians and interns in

hospitals. They help train law enforcement officers to use scientific methods of

observation when they investigate injuries or deaths. Pathologists also do scientifi c

research into drugs and disease. Laboratories developing new drugs need

pathologists to study their safety. Pathologists use microscopes, radioisotopes, and

other equipment to study the cause of disease. They also use scientific methods and

computerized data as they test theories about disease processes. Cancer,

atherosclerosis, allergies, and birth defects are among the many diseases being

studied by medical pathologists.

Animal pathologists may be veterinarians or zoologists (animal scientists).

Veterinarians specializing in pathology study diseases and disorders in animals.They often specialize in poultry, livestock, or pets. They also help to improve the

quality of livestock and poultry used for human food. In addition, their work helps to

save human lives since animals can transmit diseases such as rabies and

tuberculosis to human beings. Similar to veterinarians and medical pathologists,

zoologists specializing in pathology may study the effects of disease, parasites, and

insects on the cells, tissues, and organs of animals. Unlike other pathologists,

zoologists are often trained to work with a wide variety of animal species. They may

study hereditary diseases or disorders in fruit flies in order to increase knowledge

about the ways diseases are passed on over a period of many generations. They

may study the development of tumors in mice to get clues about the causes and

development of cancer in human beings. Animal pathologists often use equipment

and methods that are similar to those used by medical pathologists. Zoologists and

veterinarians working in animal pathology are employed by colleges and universities,

centers for veterinary medicine, zoos, and wildlife refuges as well as government

agencies and private industry.

Plant pathologists are botanists (plant scientists) whose special field is

sometimes called phytopathology. Sometimes plant pathologists do basic research

into the nature of disease in living things. For example, they may study the effect of

air pollution on the respiration rate and o n the cells and tissues of plants. This study

may have applications for medical pathologists who are concerned with the role of


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industrial pollution in causing lung cancer or emphysema in human beings. On the

other hand, many plant pathologists do research that directly relates to plant

diseases. They devise ways to control or prevent plant diseases. They help to

develop new types of plants that are disease resistant. Their work is useful in

improving our food, fiber, and lumber supplies and in preserving t he ornamental

plants and trees that make our environment more healthful and attractive. Plant

pathologists use many of the same kinds of laboratory equipment and scientific

methods that medical and animal pathologists use. Plant pathologists teach and do

research in colleges and universities. They work for government agencies and

private firms involved in agriculture, horticulture, forestry, and related fields.

(http://careers.stateuniversity.com/pages/412/Pathologist.html)


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2 .1 DEFINITION : ANATOMICAL PATHOLOGIST

Anatomic pathology, also known as anatomical pathology, is a branch of the

medical field which involves the examination of anatomical specimens to learn more

about the processes of disease and death. Specialists in this field do everything from

examining biopsy samples taken by surgeons to determine whether or not a growthis cancerous to examining the bodies of murder victims to determine the cause of

death and collect evidence which could be used in investigation and prosecution.

The term pathology translates into the study of suffering, and this medical

discipline is focused on examining the nature, course, and resolution of disease. In

order to become an anatomic pathologist, someone must attend medical school and

complete a residency in general pathology, followed by a focus in anatomic

pathology. The other main area of focus in the field of pathology is clinical pathology,in which samples of body fluids are examined in the laboratory.

There are a number of subspecialties within the anatomic pathology field. For

example, someone could focus on neuropathology, the examination of brain tissue,

or cytopathology, the study of samples of cells. When a doctor takes a Pap smear

from a woman, the examination of the tissue is often performed by a cytopathologist.

Other specialties include molecular pathology, gynecological pathology, endocrine

pathology, dermatopathology, cardiac pathology, osteopathology, and autopsy or

forensic pathology.

The goal of a pathologist is to be able to examine an anatomical sample and

to determine whether the sample is normal or abnormal, and if it is abnormal, to

describe the abnormality. Anatomic pathology can be used in the diagnosis and

treatment of disease, to do everything from confirming that a surgeon removed all of

a tumor to diagnosing a particular form of kidney disease from a biopsy sample.

One of the more unique specialties within the field of anatomic pathology isautopsy pathology, which involves the study of deceased individuals to learn how

they died. Autopsies are routinely requested in cases where a death is suspicious, or

when the cause of death is unclear. In forensic pathology, the pathologist studies the

body to learn not only how the person died, but when. This branch of pathology also

focuses on the collection of legal evidence.


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Work in the field of anatomic pathology can be varied and quite rewarding.

Candidates interested in working in this area of medicine need to have excellent

attention to detail, along with great descriptive skills which will allow them to

communicate clearly in pathology results. It can also help to have a high tolerance

for unpleasant sights and strong odors, as these frequently crop up in pathology

laboratories.

(http ://www.wisegeek.com/w hat- is-anat omic -path ology. ht m)


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2 . 2 DEFINITION : FORENSIC PATHOLOGIST

Forensic pathology is a branch of the field of pathology which applies the

principles of pathology to the legal profession. Forensic pathologists specialize in

examining bodies and evidence such as body fluids and tissue samples for the

purpose of gathering information which can be used in criminal investigation and

court trials. They are sometimes known as medical examiners, coroners, or simply

pathologists, depending on the region where they work.

Some people think that the term forensics refers to forensic pathology, which

generates considerable confusion when forensic accountants, forensic document

examiners, forensic psychiatrists, and other forensics professionals are discussed.

Forensic actually comes from the Latin f orum , and it means pertaining to a trial.

The field of forensics was developed in the 1800s, when people began applying

scientific methods to criminal investigation and legal trials.

The field of pathology in general is focused on the study of disease and its

processes. A specialist in forensic pathology has training in this field, with additional

skills which can be applied to the legal field. For examp le, he or she can examine a

body to determine the cause of death, but the pathologist can also look for other

clues and information, such as defensive marks on the hands which might indicate

that the victim fought back while being attacked.

Forensic pathology can involve the study of bodies, a process known as

autopsy, or analysis of samples taken at crime scenes or from the body. In cases

where a complete body is not available for examination, the forensic pathologist can

gather information from the available materials which can be used in investigation

and eventual prosecution. They can also examine samples of tissue and body fluids

to look for toxins and signs which can provide additional clues into the nature of thedeath, such as evidence that someone was suffocated and then submerged to make

the death look like a drowning.


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In addition to being knowledgeable about huma n anatomy and pathology, a

forensic pathologist needs some additional skills. He or she must be able to collect

evidence properly and to maintain the chain of custody, ensuring that the evidence is

not compromised. It may also be necessary for forensic pathologists to testify on the

witness stand in some cases, and in some instances, a specialist in forensic

pathology may be retained by the defense for the purpose of refuting claims made by

the specialist who works for the government or the prosecution.

(http ://www.wisegeek.com/w hat- is-f ore nsic-path ology. ht m)


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2 .3 SUMMARIZING

The doc tor that p ract ices both

is ca lled

GENERAL PATHOLOGIST

Sub-specialities

*stat ed on ly a f ew of th e subspecia lit ies of anat omic a l path ology

Pathology as speci a list

Clinical

PathologistAnatomical

Pathologist

Derm at opath ology

Molecul a r Path ologis t

Neuro path ologis t

FORENSIC

PATHOLOGIST


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3.0 CLASSIFICATION : FORENSIC PATHOLOGY VS CLINICAL PATHOLOGY

Clinical pathology is a medical specialty that is concerned with the

diagnosis of disease based on the laboratory analysis of bodily fluids such as

blood and urine, and tissues using the tools of chemistry, microbiology,hematology and molecular pathology. Clinical pathologists work in close

collaboration with medical technologists hospital administrations and referring

physicians to ensure the accuracy and optimal utilization of laboratory testing.

We accept the view that while every forensic pathologist needs to be a

competent morbid anatomist, the reverse statement does not follow: Many morbid

anatomists will never have the inclination to undertake forensic work, i.e. work for the

police or the criminal courts. The nature of the problems most often encountered incriminal investigation is different from that most often encountered in clinical work.

So are the circumstances in which the two kinds of pathologists are called upon to

work . The Forensic Pathologist may be required in field work literally ! There is also

a difference between writing an opinion for a colleague, and giving evidence

based on that opinion or being cross-examined on that opinion in the criminal

court . There are pathologists who feel attracted to this par ticular kind of challenge

and also have the ability to cope with it, and there are pathologists who do not feel

this urge and who may not have the right attributes. We conclude that the differencebetween a clinical pathologist and a forensic pathologist i s as much in the nature of

the man as the nature of the work .

Whilst it is certainly true that the difference between a clinical pathologist and

a forensic pathologist is in the nature of the person performing the task as well as the

nature of the work, it is not true to say that forensic pathology can be carried

out only by medical practitioners with a certain type of personality . Instead, this

personal aspect of the difference between clinical and forensic pathologists isaccounted for by training and experience . The forensic pathologist has to be

trained in, and develop an understanding and aptitude for, the legal process of

investigation in conjunction with their knowledge of the scientific process of

investigation . These two approaches to investigating matters are quite distinct and

few medical practitioners have any real understanding of or feel for the legal


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investigative method . It is a knowledge of the role that legal systems play in

society, as well as an understanding of the legal process and legal method, that

distinguish forensic pathologists from their clinical counterparts. Certainly there are

areas of specialist factual knowledge that forensic pathologists are familiar with

that their clinical counterparts are not.

However, simply acquiring factual knowledge on forensic issues will not

provide a clinical pathologist with sufficient skills to undertake forensic work .

A practical result of this difference is that forensic pathology does not sit

comfortably within a professional clinical patholo gy environment . Indeed, the

service requirements of forensic pathology mean that the service is usually more

efficiently provided by specialist forensic pathologists working together and

providing a broad based regional forensic pathology service for a ran ge of

clients .


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3.1 CLASSIFICATION : FORENSIC PATHOLOGY VS CORONER

In order to examine the role of the forensic pathologist, it is essential to

understand the development of death investigation systems including the role the

coroner plays in such jurisdictions. The office of coroner has its roots in Normantimes where death investigation had associated with it important political and

financial considerations . Coroners were associated with the collection of a number

of fines and taxes that could be levied by the Crown in association with certain types

of deaths. Deodands comprised taxes paid to the Crown that were based on the

financial value of the implement or object that had caused a person's unnatural

death, so that if a person was run over by a cart, the cart or its value was forfeited to

the Crown as a tax and the coroner was responsible for ensuring that the tax was

paid. Similarly the fine of presentment of Englishry was payable by a localcommunity if the coroner found that a deceased person was not of English blood.

The role of the coroner in criminal matters relat ing to death was limited ,

although the coroner had the ability to ensure that potential criminal matters

were brought within the criminal justice system . Their main function in relation to

crime was to keep a check on the sheriff and to ensure that revenue s such as

fines reached the King . With regard to the prevention of deaths, the coroner had

little or no direct function , although some early coroners made attempts to

highlight hazards in the community and to reduce their impact.

Over time, the coroner's role diminished and the office became an onerous

one with the coroner having to pay many of the fees associated with the work out of

his own pocket. Early coroners were not necessarily medically or legally trained, and

many of the early coroners appointments were essentially political rather than

professional.

Today the approach of coroners in Australia differs from that of coroners

in England and Wales . Much of the function of the office of coroners in Australia is

focused on prevention , with the coroner empowered to make broad

recommendations surrounding the issues of public health and safety and judicial

administration. Such an approach gives the coroner a dynamic function in


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contributing to the welfare of the community. In this modern framework the rol e of the

full-time forensic pathologist has been revitalized. The forensic pathologist is not

involved only with the investigation of suspicious deaths that may have a criminal

connotation. Instead, the forensic pathologists role has been widened to includ e a

wide range of natural and unintentional deaths, investigation of which, can lead to

improvements in the health and safety of the community. In conjunction with the

coroner, the forensic pathologist is a watchdog who maintains a constant

surveillance on potential fatal hazards in our society and ensures that preventable

deaths are recognized and the issues surrounding them addressed.


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4 .0 PATHWAY TO BECOME FORENSIC PATHOLOGY

Y ou need advanced training to become a pathologist. As an undergraduate,

you should major in premedical studies, a biological science, chemistry, or a related

field. It generally takes four years to earn a bachelor's degree and another one or two years to obtain a master's degree.

Medical pathologists usually go to medical school for four years after they

graduate from college. They receive the degree of doctor of medicine (M.D.) . In

some cases they spend six years in medical school and earn a doctoral deg ree

in pathology in addition to their medical degree.

After medical school, pathologists spend about four more years in ahospital as a resident in pathology . If they choose, they may also take additional

training in one of the subspecialties in medical p athology .

Medical pathologists need to be licensed by their state to practice

medicine and must also be certified by the American Board of P athology .

Medical pathologists are likely to spend a total of at least twelve years in

training before they are fully qualified in their profession. Pathologists must spend

time reading and studying throughout their careers in order to keep up with newdevelopments in their field.

(http://careers.stateuniversity.com/pages/412/Pathologist.html)


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5 .0 SUB-SPECIALITIES OF ANATOMICAL PATHOLOGY

5 .1 SURGICAL PATHOLOGY

Surgical pathology is the most significant and time-consuming area of practice for

most anatomical pathologists. Surgical pathology involves the gross and microscopic

examination of surgical specimens, as well as biopsies submitted by non-surgeons

such as general internists, medical subspecialists, dermatologists, and interventional

radiologists. Surgical pathology increasingly requires technologies and skills

traditionally associated with clinical pathology such as molecular diagnostics.

5 . 2 RENAL PATHOLOGY

R enal pathology is a sub-discipline of anatomical pathology concerned with the

diagnosis of medical (non-tumor) kidney diseases, including both native kidneys and

transplants. R enal pathologists routinely employ techniques of immunofluorescence

and electron microscopy, in addition to light microscopy, for kidney biopsy and

nephrectomy specimens. The renal pathologist integrates the microscopic findings

from these three techniques along with the clinical presentation of the patient and the

patient's clinical laboratory results to arrive at a diagnosis.

5 .3 CYTOPATHOLOGY

Cytopathology is a sub-discipline of anatomical pathology concerned with the

microscopic examination of whole, individual cells obtained from smears or fine

needle aspirates. Cytopathologists are trained to perform fine -needle aspirates of

superficially located organs, masses, or cysts, and are often able to render an

immediate diagnosis in the presence of the patient and consulting physician. In the

case of screening tests such as the Papanicolaou smear, non-physician

cytotechnologists are often employed to perform initial reviews, with only positive or

uncertain cases examined by the pathologist. Cytopathology is a board-certifiablesubspecialty in the U.S.


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5 . 4 MOLECULAR PATHOLOGY

Molecular pathology is an emerging discipline within pathology, and focuses in the

study and diagnosis of disease through the examination of molecules within or gans,

tissues or bodily fluids. Molecular pathology shares some aspects of practice with

both anatomic pathology and clinical pathology, molecular biology, biochemistry,proteomics and genetics, and is sometimes considered a "crossover" discipline. It is

multi-disciplinary in nature and focuses mainly on the sub-microscopic aspects of

disease and unknown illnesses with strange causes.

It is a scientific discipline that encompasses the development of molecular and

genetic approaches to the diagnosis and classification of human tumors, the design

and validation of predictive biomarkers for treatment response and disease

progression, the susceptibility of individuals of different genetic constitution todevelop cancer, and the environmental and lifestyle fa ctors implicated in

carcinogenesis.

5 . 5 AUTOPSY PATHOLOGY

General anatomical pathologists are trained in performing autopsies, which are used

to determine the disease factors contributing to a person's death. Autopsies are

important in the ongoing medical education of clinicians, and in efforts to improve

and verify the quality of medical care. Dieners are non-physicians who assistpathologists in the gross dissection portion of the autopsy. The recently established

field of Pathologists Assistant has taken over the role of Diener and contributes a

great deal to the pre-diagnosis of disease within the pathology laboratory. Autopsies

represent less than 10% of the workload of typical pathologists in the United States. ]

However, the autopsy is central to public perceptions of the field, in part due to

portrayals of pathologists on television programs such as Quincy, M.E. and Silent

Witness .


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5 .6 DERMATOPATHOLOGY

Dermatopathology is a subspecialty of anatomic pathology that focuses on the skin

as an organ. It is unique in that there are two routes which a physician can use to

obtain this specialization. All general pathologists and general dermatologists aretrained in the pathology of the skin; however, the dermatopathologist is a specialist in

this organ. In the USA, either a general pathologist or a dermatologist can undergo a

1 to 2 year fellowship in the field of dermatopathology. The completion of this

fellowship allows one to take a subspecialty board examination, and becomes a

board certified dermatpathologist.

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anatomical_pathology )

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pathology)


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6.0 FAQS : PATHOLOGY & FORENSIC PATHOLOGY

1 Q . What is forensic pathology? A. Forensic pathology is the subspecialty of pathology that focuses on themedicolegal investigation of sudden or unexpected death.

2 Q . How many years of schooling and training does it take to become aforensic pathologist?A. After high school you'll have to undertake:

y 4 years of college, to get a bachelors degreey 4 years of medical school, to get the doctor of medicine (MD) degreey 4 or 5 years of residency (4 for anatomic pathology only, or 5 for

combined anatomic/clinical pathology, the latter track beingrecommended) to become eligible to take the Board exams inpathology

y 1 or 2 years of forensic pathology fellowship, to be eligible to take the

subspecialty Board exam in forensic pathology

3 Q . Wow! Thirteen to fifteen years after high school before you can get ajob? To hell with that!A. It's not as bad as it sounds. Of course you have to pay tuition and livingexpenses for the eight years of college and med school, but residents andfellows earn a decent living wage (about $26,000/yr to start). From what I'veseen, the people who get in trouble financially are those that insist on startingfamilies while still in school and borrow a lot of money to finance a middle -class, American-dream lifestyle. When they finally finish training, they arebeset with the payback of onerous loans. On the other hand, if you're single,

live in not-the-best neighborhoods, and split expenses with housemates, medschool is very affordable, even fun. 4 Q . What do forensic pathologists do at work?

A. Forensic pathologists split their time among

1) performing autopsies,

2) acquiring data from investigating officers, and

3) testifying in court.

Occasionally they may visit scenes of crimes or accidents, but I think this isuncommon for most.

5 Q . What personality characteristics are required in a good forensi cpathologist?A. Varying combinations of the following ingredients:

y A talent for and interest in science. This should include not onlybiology, but physics, chemistry, and the social sciences (anthropologyand psychology). For the bread-and-butter technical part of your work,


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you should especially have a good grasp of spatial relationships.y G ood communication skills. Y ou will not only be interacting with law

officers, but you'll be trying to convince judges and juries that your findings are valid.

y S trong stomach. Y ou'll be routinely dealing with dismembered and/or rotting bodies. From a pure visceral standpo int there is no job moredisgusting than forensic pathology.

y Thick skin. Y ou w ill be periodically raked over the coals by the localmedia, who apparently cannot to resist the urge to armchair -quarterback your work. Y ou will also make many enemies among thecitizenry. For instance, when you determine that Daddy killed himself,and he w asn't poisoned by that blond bimbo who was only interested inhis money, you are going to have some very angry children buzzingaround you.

y The mind of a detective. Y ou will have to constantly be on guardagainst being fooled by malefactors smarter and more focused thanyou. Y ou will have to have some insight into the heart and mind of acriminal.

6 Q . Where should I go to high school/college? Where should I do my

pathology residency/forensic pathology fellowship?A. Y ou can go to high school anywhere. At any school, rich or poor, public or private, most of the teachers are mediocre, a few are totally incompetent, anda few are wonderful. The bottom line is that you, the student, are ultimatelyresponsible for your education. Even if you are so unfortunate as to be thevictim of uniformly abysmal teaching, the information is out there, and it is upto you to get it. Also, if you develop good time management skills in highschool, college will not only be easier, but fun, too. The potential for anenjoyable social life in college is great, but you have to come armed with asense of priorities to succeed both socially and academically on campus.

The choice of college is a little more important. I am going to tell you right off that I have a strong bias against two-year colleges (from which you couldtheoretically transfer to complete your premedical education at a four -year college). These are cold, dismal places populated by desperate studentswhose j oie de vivre was left behind years ago. At eighteen, you don't needthis.

I have a smaller bias against large, state -sponsored, four-year universities.For one thing, you are lost in the crowd. More importantly, your huge survey -level classes are often taught by unmotivated graduate students who may or

may not be able to speak understandable English. Do you really want this?(Of course, many grads of large universities are quick to defend their almaematres, such as one individual whose e-mailed argument was so eloquentthat I just had to post it here.)

This leaves four-year liberal arts colleges, which I highly recommend. Believeme, twenty years later, you'll be happy you made this choice. I think thecollege education is the single most i mportant (but least appreciated) part of one's education. Its value is subtle, though, and it may take decades for its


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promise to flower.

Medical school is an easy choice: go to the cheapest one you can get into.The quality of education is the same in ev ery U.S. school. Y ou have the sametextbooks, the same human bodies with the same diseases, and the samequality of faculty. Unfortunately, faculty members in med schools are not hiredor promoted based on their teaching skills, but on their practice skill s and

research accomplishments. Don't get me wrong; there are plenty of excellentmedical educators, but you never know where they'll turn up.

The choice of residency is more important. I strongly suggest a programassociated with a university, not a private hospital (although you can rotate atprivate hospitals under the aegis of university -based teaching programs). Somuch of the value of a residency program depends on the rapport betweenresidents and faculty. This is a hard parameter to measure from a distance,so you should consider doing a med school pathology elective in one or moreof the departments you are looking at for residency training. It is usually easyto arrange this, even between schools in different states.

R egarding your forensic pathology fellowship , you will have to go to a bigcity to get sufficient experience. Y ou will want to look for a program in whichthe fellow (you) does about 250 autopsies a year. Too many less than that,and you won't get enough experience. Too many more, and you'll be so busyyou won't have time to read, study, and do thorough workups on your cases.Of course, you will also want to look for a place that has senior faculty youcan respect and have rapport with.

7 Q . What are the advantages of being a forensic pathologist?

A. The hours are better than for most other physicians, but this is not a nine -to-five office job by any means. Don't even think about going to med school if you are a clock-watcher.

Y ou have the satisfaction of not only helping to put criminals away, but of comforting grieving families, thus, "It was over very quickly. She did notsuffer."

The job is very challenging, and boredom will not be a problem.

(http ://we b2 .a irm a il.ne t /u th man / f ore nsic_c a reer. ht ml)


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7 .0 BIBILIOGRAPHY

1. David R anson, T he Role o f Forensic Pathology

2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pathology

3. http://careers.stateuniversity.com/pages/412/Pathologist.html4. http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-anatomic-pathology.htm

5. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anatomical_pathology

6. http://web2.airmail.net/uthman/forensic_career.html

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