Forensic Pathology

Forensic Pathology

• Forensic pathology is a specialty that addresses society's need for accurate certification of natural and nonnatural deaths for public health surveillance and allocation of resources.

• Often behind the scenes, forensic pathologists communicate autopsy results to families, which involves answering questions about their loved one's death and addressing heritable causes of illness that are directly relevant to the survivors, especially when the cause is confirmed by molecular genetic testing.

• In deaths associated with disasters such as infections, weather catastrophes, mass accidents, and acts of violence, forensic pathologists and allied experts in forensic anthropology, criminalistics, toxicology, and medicolegal death investigation, among others in the larger field of forensic sciences, have a crucial role in identifying remains and discerning among injurious forces.

• Forensic pathologists interface with, but are independent from, the justice system and can educate the public about deaths highlighted by the media.

• Forensic pathologists may facilitate donation of autopsy tissue for the advancement of research on human disease.

Forensic Pathology

Forensic pathologists play key roles in many areas of public health, including mass casualty events and disease or drug epidemics, and in the justice system. They also act as bridges to families of deceased persons and society.