ABSTRACT
Forensic pathology is the scientic examination of human bodies in order to elucidate the cause, manner (e.g., natural, homicide), and circumstances involved with death. e actual examination is normally performed by a forensic pathologist who is a licensed physician. Aer 4 years of medical school, the typical forensic pathologist has completed an additional 3-4 years of training in an anatomic/clinical pathology residency program, followed by a year of specialized training in a forensic pathology fellowship. Aer this training and successful completion of the anatomic pathology board examination, the forensic pathologist is eligible to sit for the forensic pathology board examination administered by the American Board of Pathology. If successful, the forensic pathologist is then a “boardcertied” forensic pathologist. Unfortunately, in the United States there is a shortage of
2.1 Forensic Pathology Dened 41 2.2 Death Investigation 42
2.2.1 History 42 2.2.2 Scene Investigation 43 2.2.3 Evidence Collection 44
2.3 Changes aer Death 44 2.3.1 Rigor Mortis 45 2.3.2 Livor Mortis (Hypostasis) 45 2.3.3 Algor Mortis (Postmortem Cooling) 46 2.3.4 Tissue Decomposition 47 2.3.5 Stomach Contents 49
2.4 Time of Death 49 2.5 Cause of Death 50
2.5.1 Natural Deaths 50 2.5.2 Blunt Force Trauma 51 2.5.3 Sharp Force Trauma 52 2.5.4 Gunshot Wounds 53 2.5.5 Asphyxia 56 2.5.6 Fire 56 2.5.7 Drugs 57
2.6 Manner of Death 58 2.7 Autopsy Reports 59 2.8 Death Certicates 59 2.9 Professional Relationships 59 References 60
board-certied forensic pathologists with only an estimated 400 board certied forensic pathologists practicing forensic pathology full time (Hanzlick et al. 2008, 114). us, as a practical matter, many forensic examinations are carried out by nonboarded forensic pathologists whose backgrounds can vary considerably.
