ABSTRACT
Generally speaking, anatomical pathologists (regardless of whether they are employed by universities, hospital authorities or private companies, or are self-employed) represent a subspecialty group within the medical profession. The term profession implies an organisation which offers a service that is founded on a body of knowledge, skills, attitudes and ethical codes that has developed over many years, indeed centuries. Human pathology is relatively meaningless as an isolated discipline. Histology, gross anatomy, genetics, embryology, molecular biology, microbiology, physiology and biochemistry are prerequisites for an understanding of disordered structure and function. Anatomical pathology is an intensely visual discipline and as such its teaching is visually based. The needs of the medical student have rarely been defined, and most medical students report that their medical education did not prepare them for life on the wards.
