By: Sara Lowrie

Forensic Pathologists

Forensic Pathologists may have one of the hardest jobs

in the world. Finding the cause of death to

those of the recently deceased. With years

Of medical training these doctors help solve murders,

homicides, and suicides.

Forensic PathologyForensic Pathology is one “branch” of Pathology. Pathology is theStudy of disease. Some different “branches” Pathology are:

• Hematopathology • Study of disease in the blood

• Neuropathology• Study of disease of the nervous system

• Dermatopathology• Study of disease in the skin

A Forensic Pathologist’s job is to determine cause of death, and the circumstances of the death.

Becoming a Forensic Pathologist

Becoming a Forensic pathologist isn’t an easy task. First one must become a Pathologist. To become a Pathologist you need to have:• Your High school Diploma or GED• Your bachelors degree

• Four years• Complete medical school

• Four Years• One year internship after medical school• Phases of Pathology (Complete Training And Residency)

• Four yearsBut with different courses in individual programs this now Physician generally faces 5 or 6 years after medical school before he/she can be called a Pathologist. Let Alone A Forensic Pathologist. (http://ocis.ode.state.oh.us/InfoPrintSelect.aspx?FileID=Occ&FileNum=100285 & http://www.fofweb.com/Science/MainDetailPrint.asp?iPin=IFSFM0001&RecType=Essay&WinType=Free&checked=rdoMLA)

Working as a Forensic Pathologist

With dealing with dead bodies daily stress is a heavy factor, sohumor is necessary in the work place. But this is no ordinary humor. Humor in the work place of Pathologists is very dark, and something not many people would understand. This humor is never disrespectful to the deceased but is sometime irreverent.It is a great stress reliever, and “balances” the work place.

Working as a Forensic Pathologist

Pay varies within the years of experience, and the location of the workplace. In the state of Ohio pay can vary:

Difference between Forensic Pathologist, Coronerand Medical Examiner

A Coroner ‘s main duty is to investigate suspicious deaths. Although Forensic Pathologists and Coroners are thought to be the same, they are notin some cases. Some states do not require coroners to be Forensic Pathologists,or even a physician! In that case the coroner does NOT perform the autopsy, instead if the coroner does decide that an autopsy is required, then he or she will hire a Forensic Pathologist and or a Hospital Pathologist if one is not available. A Medical Examiner is a Forensic Pathologist, and their main mission is death investigation. So in other words a corner is to investigate in suspiciousdeaths, which may end up being a legal issue. BUT not all corners are Forensic Pathologists. Medical Examiners ARE Forensic Pathologists that work in theLegal field and study the dead bodies involved in homicides to determine cause of death, time of death etc. In order to find the murderer.)

The difference between a Forensic Pathologist and a Hospital Pathologist

Both a Forensic Pathologist and Hospital Pathologist can perform autopsy’sbut both ways are different. A Hospital Pathologist has to follow theseguide lines:• They need permisson from the coroners office in order to perform the autopsy• Before they perform the autopsy, they have to read all the medical records of

The deceased, including x-rays, MRI, CT scans etc.• They only have permission to perform autopsy’s on certain parts of the body

Such as they might have permission to do an autopsy on the abdomen butThey are not permitted to do an autopsy on the rest of the body.

• The “patient” who the Pathologist is performing the autopsy on is either Naked, or in a hospital gown.

The difference between a Forensic Pathologist and a Hospital Pathologist

(Continued)Forensic Pathologists have to follow these guide lines:• They do not need permission to perform the autopsy.• They usually perform a full autopsy• They do not perform from the medical record• When a body from a crime scene plays a major part in

the investigation, so they are not removed.

Forensic Pathologists have it much easier, when it comes to autopsy’s but at the same time, they don’t, they have to account every scratch, every mark and all the little details about the remains in order to find the criminal.

Forensic Pathologists have to have many different skills in the work place. Forensic Pathologists need to be able to:• Communicate with fellow workers• They also have to have to be reasonable, and be able

to problem solve.• You have to be a people person, and be able to

communicate well with others.• You must also be well with math in science.• You must be well with tools, to be able to know what

tool is which, and which tool does what, and goes where.

• You need to be organized, with not only yourself but with the people around you.

Forensic pathology isn’t something easy, and you have to know a lot of things in order to be successful. You need to know the different types of medicine, and tools. Different bones, and tissues. You need to know the different teeth, and the difference between a scratch or a cut. You need to know what kind of knife could cause this type of cut, or how deep the wound is, and how old is the wound. You need to be able to identify if this is a piece of a chipped tooth or bone. Not only that but you need to know about the plants and animals in the area. How the insects move and function, You need to know what plants are edible, and what plants are poisonous in that area. To become a good forensic Pathologist could take at least 12 years. To become a great Forensic Pathologist it may take 20.

Becoming a forensic Pathologist is not easy, and takes along time and a lot of money. This is a job you have to push your self to keep going. You have to want to complete your schooling. With how expensive school is now, it will take even more than 12 years to become a Pathologist. But to some it is worth it. For me, I would like to become a forensic Pathologist, and serve in the medical field. It is a long and hard commitment, but I am willing to go for the gold.

Work Cited "Death Investigation in the United States." Science Online. Facts On File, Inc. Web. 28 Oct. 2012. <http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE40&SID=5&iPin=SciIllus02936&SingleRecord=True>.

Adelman, Howard C. "pathology and the forensic pathologist." Science Online. Facts On File, Inc. Web. 28 Oct. 2012. <http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE40&SID=5&iPin=IFSFM0001&SingleRecord=True>.

http://ocis.ode.state.oh.us?info2aspex?FileID=Occ&FileNum=100285&TopicNum=0. “Corner” Ohio Career Information System. 28 Oct. 2012