Introduction
Forensic pathology is mainly concerned with establishing the cause of a person’s death by carrying out examinations of his/her dead body or other available materials such as scene of crime. In most occurrences, forensic pathology is usually requested in situations where there occur suspicions on a person death. Mostly, this examination is performed under the request of a medical examiner during investigations of possible crime that might have led to the death of a person whose body is being examined. In addition, this branch of science also seeks to confirm or give the identity of the dead body (Dolinak, 4).
Forensic pathology is usually carried out by person who is medically trained to determine assaults as well as providing treatment to assaults of living persons. The pathologist must table their evidence and their findings in criminal courts and they are also required to testify during criminal cases as well as in some jurisdictions (Dolinak, 4).
Branches of Forensic Pathology
It is worth noting that there are two branches of forensic pathology. These branches include anatomic pathology and clinical pathology. Clinical pathology involves assessment of body fluids which mainly requires assistance from clinical laboratories (Coe, 9). This branch of pathology has other subcategories which include chemistry, toxicology, hematology, immunology and microbiology. However, among these subcategories, toxicology and chemistry are the most applied subcategories in pathological examinations.
Toxicology
Deaths that are toxicology related are not determined immediately. They may take weeks or months after an autopsy is carried out. Drug suspected deaths are easier to suggest or investigates due to the evidence available on the scene of death as well as the family history. It is even made easier if the position of the corpse is not tampered with until the medical examiners get a chance to look and assess the body.
Toxicology specimens which include vitreous fluid and blood are usually collected before an autopsy has been performed (Coe, 9). A Blood specimen is collected from femoral veins due to the fact that these veins are located in an area that gives easy access to blood that is located in the exterior part of the body cavity. Peripherally situated blood is the best option for toxicologic examinations because of its isolation from internal organs in the abdomen and the chest. Blood from this area gives a more accurate reading of toxic drugs that may be in the body. However, blood from the central organs as well as the heart may elevate the toxicity of drug levels. This can occur as a result of a diffusion of blood during postmortem (Dolinak, 487). Nonetheless, collection of specimen from embalmed bodies may be a bit tricky. It requires the medical examiner to collect specimen from the skeletal muscle especially muscles from the buttock. The buttock is preferable because of the pressure mounted on it owing to the fact that an embalmed body is usually laid on ones back, in a supine position.
In exhumed bodies forensics pathologists gets blood from the chambers of the heart which include iliac arteries and the aorta. In addition, investigations on exhumed may require a practitioner to collect specimen from the brain, kidneys, lung, nails, heart, and hair among other internal organs. For drug detection, a swab in the inner eye linings and urinary bladder can also give specimen which can be use for analysis. Although the eyes and bladder may contain no fluid, dried deposit can as well be used for analysis
On the other hand, anatomic pathology involves body tissues examinations. These tissues are gotten from the dead bodies or living persons and are examined through a microscope. This branch of pathology has subcategories. Its main subcategories are surgical, cytopathology and autopsy. Surgical anatomic pathology involves making diagnosis for possible diseases to a living person. On the other hand, autopsy pathologist are engaged in the task of carrying out autopsies on dead bodies in order to determine a person’s cause of death in situations where an individual’s death cause is unknown, suspicious or unexplainable. Cytopathology subcategory of anatomic pathology involves examinations of body cells through the microscope. This examination helps in diagnosing a variety of malignant and benign conditions.
The Role of Forensic Pathologist
A forensic pathologist is usually responsible for the outcome of the examinations done on a person’s cause of death and identity. He is a very important element of forensic pathology and he is liable for information that establishes the causes and the manner of an individual’s death. He is accountable for forensic postmortem and autopsy. These individuals are usually involved in examining a dead body for possible injuries which might have caused the death. The examinations carried out by the pathologist are also crucial in identifying an individual body in situations where an individual’s body identity is in question. These examiners work on dead bodies to determine unexpected and sudden deaths as well offer support in criminal investigations (Spitz, 10).
A pathologist is also involved in assessing and documenting injuries and wounds in autopsy as well as in clinical practice. He collects and offer interpretation on person’s body fluids and tissues in order to underline whether a particular death was caused by a chemical overdose or poisoning. He is also involved in performing histology which is a process of examining specimen of tissues via the microscope. This process is significant because it actually helps in identifying any natural disease that might be taken as a cause of death. The process also gives results regarding presence or absence of asbestos bodies in the internal organs such as the lung. Microscopic tests carried out by the pathologists also identify the presence of gunpowder elements around a physical gunshot wound. The practitioners in the field of forensic pathology can be referred to as coroners, pathologist or medical examiners depending on their area of practice.
Conversely, in situations where a body is not available for examination, a forensic pathologist can get crucial information from the materials that are available and fit for use in investigation which would eventually lead to prosecution. A forensic pathologist needs to be very well-informed about human pathology as well as anatomy. In addition to this knowledge, additional skills are also very important which help him to practice self sufficiently. He must be in a position to gather information and evidence more satisfactorily and effectively as well as ensure that the evidence is intact and not tampered with
In order to practice in forensic pathology, one needs to be courageous, confident and patient. This practice requires hard work and determination. In order to successfully practice in this field, one has to go through the required educational process as well as residency training in broad-spectrum pathology. A four year college or university degree which is subsequently followed by a study in medical school which takes a time duration of four years is a must. After completing the required studies, the aspirant is required to complete a residency training which takes a minimum of three and a maximum of five years (Coe, 9).
The time during required for residency training relies on the field that one is specializing in, clinical pathology, anatomic pathology or both. Forensic pathology requires one to involve anatomic pathology and he is also required to finally go through specialty instruction program which is crucial in determining your capacities and potentials in this field. A pathologist should be in possession of good communication skills due to fact that he is mostly required to give testimony on the state of a corpse in criminal cases. His testimonies are vital in the law courts since he provides communication and testimonies on behalf of the dead person. He holds the information regarding an individual’s cause of death (Thali, 4).
Autopsy
In forensic autopsy, pathologists apply their scientific knowledge to matters relating to law. It is usually carried out in order to highlight the cause of death to people who died unexpectedly and suddenly. Forensic autopsy is oriented by problems, involves procedures that are goal directed which attempts to give answers to predictable questions. This examination is usually carried out under the scrutiny of local governing agents and by competent practitioners. Forensic autopsy is regarded as significant investigative tool to medical examiners. Dolinak (2005) ascertain that forensic autopsy should also be regarded as medicolegal puzzle of investigating deaths. It involves a process through which a dead body is examined both from the inside and outside in order to give detailed information regarding the cause of death.
Autopsy helps in identifying injury or disease that might have prompted a person’s death. External examinations involve detection of physical markings and scars that are mainly directed in giving the identity of the individual (Thali, 4). Any physical scars or marking are very significant in identifying an individual and they should therefore be documented adequately (Spitz, 10).
. The internal examination forms the most important and difficult process of examination whereby a pathologist examines the corpse’s internal organs in order to identify injuries or diseases. During the process of autopsy, pathologists make a cut across the chest, abdomen and along the top and sides of the corpse’s head. However, the pathologist ensures that these cuts are not visible to other people after the postmortem. The time through an autopsy depends on presence of disease or injuries in the dead body. It takes a minimum of thirty minutes to hours depending on the possible cause of death of an individual (Dolinak, 65).
Notably, the autopsy report which is usually documented by the forensic pathologist contains crucial information that gives and sheds light about an individual’s death. The report contains the process through which the autopsy was carried out, the possible disease and injuries that directly caused a person’s death. Injuries may include wounds from stabs, bullet wounds or infarction caused by heart diseases.
The autopsy report highlights the circumstances in which a person died. These circumstances underlined in the autopsy report by the forensic pathologist who carried out the examination may include, natural cause of death, homicide, accidental death, suicide or undetermined though this is usually very rare. An autopsy is important because it gives way of addressing the issues raised on the autopsy report. For instance an autopsy report that provides that a person was murdered leads to investigation on the murder.
Death Scene Investigation
As I indicated earlier, forensic pathologists do not only carry out their investigation on human body only, they also investigate the scene of crime which is as important as the body being examined. The scene of crime gives crucial highlights of what could have transpired before the death that is being investigated. The scene of crime is relevant in any investigation on an individual’s death. It is also quite essential in establishing the manner and cause of death in specific situations. Medical examiners usually respond to scenes of death or crime in situations where a person’s death is not natural or is suspicious.
Donalik (2005) stresses that; failure by medical examiners to visit the scene of death is a major mistake that these practitioners make in most occurrences. He emphasizes on the need of visiting the scene before carrying out in another activity in regard to the case being investigated. The scene provides clues and other crucial information necessary for forensic study. Scores of pathologist make classical mistakes thereby leading to ineffective investigations. Hospital pathologist should also be required to visit the scene of death or be provided with information in order to provide a detailed and substantial report. Nevertheless, it is worth noting that only specific deaths require a medical examiner to visit the death scene. Deaths caused by natural illness like cancer do not require examiners to view the environment in which a person died.
Evidently, in certain cases, the surrounding environment under which a person died plays a major role despite the fact that it was not the major cause of death. For instance, a situation where a person collapsed due to dysrhythmia caused by blocked blood veins while in the garden requires medical examiners to visit the scene of death. In this situation, the garden is not the cause of death but the pathologists can actually have ideas on what could have triggered the blocking of veins leading to the death (Spitz, 2).
While examining a victim of homicide, the pathologists should assess both the back and the front of the dead body in order to establish the extent and nature of injuries. This makes the work of the police easier as they will be in a position to determine what they are looking for in the investigation. If the dead body shows bullets wounds then they will know what type of weapon they will look for during the investigation. The degree of physical injuries also helps the pathologist to decide on the number of radiographs he will require in enhancing his investigation.
If the environment is indicative of a death caused from a thorough beating, the pathologists will be made to know that a struggle may have occurred in resistant to the beating thus making the body of that particular person to lie in a certain position. In such a case, the pathologists are required to get the fingernail clippings or scalp hair besides blood test for autopsy examination (Dolinak, 9). If a death was caused by sexual assault which can actually be realized from the scene of death, specimen for autopsy examination should be collected before cleaning of the body. Objects found on the scene should also be photographed and the investigators should try to compare the weapon with the nature and extent of the wounds and injuries.
Conclusion
Forensic pathology involves the study of human anatomy which aids in identifying possible causes of death. It calls for hard work and determination as well as extensive knowledge and education in understanding human anatomy. The study has two branches which have different subcategorizes. However, there are a number of examinations involved in forensic pathology which depends on nature and cause of death. It is a crucial tool which aids in providing support in criminal cases since the pathologists are required to offer their testimonies in some court cases regarding the death of a person who they have carried pathological tests on.
Work Cited
David Dolinak.Forensic pathology: Principles and practice. New York: Academic Press, 2005
Werner, Spitz. Medicolegal Investigation of Death: Guidelines for the Application of Pathology to Crime Investigation, Fourth Edition. Journal of criminal justice reference service. New York.Springer, 2006
MJ Thali. Virtopsy, a new imaging horizon in forensic pathology: virtual autopsy by postmortem multislice computed tomography (MSCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)–a feasibility study. Journal of forensic science. London: MeSh Terms.2003
Col Jl. Use of chemical determinations on vitreous humor in forensic pathology. Journal of forensic science. London: MeSh Terms.1972
