1.

0 INTRODUCTION : WORLD RECOGNITION

Brodrick Report:

“According to the evidence received the basis of forensic pathology is the small
amount of work which, although it is carried out on behalf of the coroner, is
particularly the concern of the police. Every police force needs to be able to
call on the services of a specially experienced pathologist to help in the
investigation of murder and other serious crimes against the person. Ideally,
this person should be a pathologist with a sound training in morbid anatomy
who has added to this general knowledge some additional skills, most notably
the ability to detect, and give authoritative testimony about, unusual features
of a dead body and the surrounding circumstances which may well be of
evidential value. He should be able to command the facilities of a well
equipped pathological laboratory, be readily available on call to police and
courts, and be prepared to travel at short notice anywhere in the area which
he serves.”

Do the police need the services of a special kind of pathologist who can for the
most part be distinguished from a clinical pathologist in a hospital? Do coroners
need the services of the same kind of pathologist as the police? Our answer to
both questions is an unequivocal

2.0 DEFINITION : PATHOLOGIST

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 Pathology is the study and diagnosis of disease. The word pathology is from
Greek πάθος, pathos, "feeling, suffering"; and -λογία, -logia, "the study of".

Pathologization, to pathologize, refers to the process of defining a condition or

behavior as pathological, e.g. pathological gambling. Pathologies is synonymous
with diseases. The suffix "path" is used to indicate a disease, e.g. psychopath.

Medical Pathology, Veterinary pathology and Phytopathology are the study of

anatomic, biochemical or microbiological diseases. The related scientific study of
disease processes is called general pathology. Psychopathology is the study of
psychological or mental diseases.

Medical pathology is divided into two main branches, Anatomical pathology

and Clinical pathology. Veterinary pathology is concerned with animal disease,
whereas phytopathology is the study of plant diseases.

Pathologists are biological or medical scientists who study the nature, causes,
and effects of disease in plant and animal life. Pathology is a broad field that
concentrates on the changes in organs, tissues, and cells that are caused by
disease.

Pathologists work in hospitals, medical laboratories, schools, colleges, and

universities. They may teach or do laboratory work or research. They are employed
by government agencies associated with agriculture, public health, law enforcement,
and many other fields. Private companies that make products such as drugs and
insecticides also employ pathologists.

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pathology)

Pathologists concentrate on plant, animal, or human pathology. Although the

areas of study of these pathologists are very different, they are all scientists who
study disease. Pathology has been called the bridge between basic science and
medicine. Pathologists who are concerned with human disease are usually

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physicians who have received specialized training in pathology. They are sometimes
called medical pathologists or are classified according to their subspecialty, such as
oral pathology.

Although medical pathologists do not treat patients of their own, they do

laboratory tests to diagnose disease in the patients of other physicians. They
perform tests on body tissues, secretions, and other specimens to see whether a
disease is present and to determine its stage. They evaluate the extent of the
disease, estimate the course it is likely to take, and suggest ways to treat the
disease. Surgeons may consult pathologists if they find unexpected problems during
an operation. Pathologists often stand by during surgery to test specimens taken
from a tumor in a patient's body. The patient may remain under anesthesia until the
pathologist can evaluate the specimens. Based on the pathologist's expert advice,
the surgeon is able to complete the operation in the way best suited to the patient's
condition.

Pathologists also do postmortem examinations to determine the cause of

death when the cause is unclear. They can evaluate the extent to which treatment
had helped a patient. Pathologists' reports help physicians in their care of other
patients with similar conditions. Sometimes pathologists serve as medical examiners
or coroner's consultants. They determine the cause of death in accidents,
poisonings, and suspected murders. Pathologists coordinate and supervise the work
of medical laboratory technologists or technicians who prepare specimens or may
perform the more routine laboratory tests themselves. Pathologists often specialize
in one field, such as hematology (the study of the blood), blood banking,
neuropathology (diseases of the nervous system), forensic (or legal) pathology,
medical chemistry, medical microbiology, or radioisotopic pathology.

Medical pathologists frequently teach students in schools and colleges that

train nurses, physicians, medical laboratory technologists, technicians, and other
health care workers. They sometimes conduct seminars for physicians and interns in
hospitals. They help train law enforcement officers to use scientific methods of

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observation when they investigate injuries or deaths. Pathologists also do scientific
research into drugs and disease. Laboratories developing new drugs need
pathologists to study their safety. Pathologists use microscopes, radioisotopes, and
other equipment to study the cause of disease. They also use scientific methods and
computerized data as they test theories about disease processes. Cancer,
atherosclerosis, allergies, and birth defects are among the many diseases being
studied by medical pathologists.

Animal pathologists may be veterinarians or zoologists (animal scientists).

Veterinarians specializing in pathology study diseases and disorders in animals.
They often specialize in poultry, livestock, or pets. They also help to improve the
quality of livestock and poultry used for human food. In addition, their work helps to
save human lives since animals can transmit diseases such as rabies and
tuberculosis to human beings. Similar to veterinarians and medical pathologists,
zoologists specializing in pathology may study the effects of disease, parasites, and
insects on the cells, tissues, and organs of animals. Unlike other pathologists,
zoologists are often trained to work with a wide variety of animal species. They may
study hereditary diseases or disorders in fruit flies in order to increase knowledge
about the ways diseases are passed on over a period of many generations. They
may study the development of tumors in mice to get clues about the causes and
development of cancer in human beings. Animal pathologists often use equipment
and methods that are similar to those used by medical pathologists. Zoologists and
veterinarians working in animal pathology are employed by colleges and universities,
centers for veterinary medicine, zoos, and wildlife refuges as well as government
agencies and private industry.

Plant pathologists are botanists (plant scientists) whose special field is

sometimes called phytopathology. Sometimes plant pathologists do basic research
into the nature of disease in living things. For example, they may study the effect of
air pollution on the respiration rate and on the cells and tissues of plants. This study
may have applications for medical pathologists who are concerned with the role of
industrial pollution in causing lung cancer or emphysema in human beings. On the
other hand, many plant pathologists do research that directly relates to plant
diseases. They devise ways to control or prevent plant diseases. They help to
develop new types of plants that are disease resistant. Their work is useful in

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improving our food, fiber, and lumber supplies and in preserving the ornamental
plants and trees that make our environment more healthful and attractive. Plant
pathologists use many of the same kinds of laboratory equipment and scientific
methods that medical and animal pathologists use. Plant pathologists teach and do
research in colleges and universities. They work for government agencies and
private firms involved in agriculture, horticulture, forestry, and related fields.

(http://careers.stateuniversity.com/pages/412/Pathologist.html)

2.1 DEFINITION : ANATOMICAL PATHOLOGIST

Anatomic pathology, also known as anatomical pathology, is a branch of the

medical field which involves the examination of anatomical specimens to learn more

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about the processes of disease and death. Specialists in this field do everything from
examining biopsy samples taken by surgeons to determine whether or not a growth
is cancerous to examining the bodies of murder victims to determine the cause of
death and collect evidence which could be used in investigation and prosecution.

The term “pathology” translates into “the study of suffering,” and this medical
discipline is focused on examining the nature, course, and resolution of disease. In
order to become an anatomic pathologist, someone must attend medical school and
complete a residency in general pathology, followed by a focus in anatomic
pathology. The other main area of focus in the field of pathology is clinical pathology,
in which samples of body fluids are examined in the laboratory.

There are a number of subspecialties within the anatomic pathology field. For
example, someone could focus on neuropathology, the examination of brain tissue,
or cytopathology, the study of samples of cells. When a doctor takes a Pap smear
from a woman, the examination of the tissue is often performed by a cytopathologist.
Other specialties include molecular pathology, gynecological pathology, endocrine
pathology, dermatopathology, cardiac pathology, osteopathology, and autopsy or
forensic pathology.

The goal of a pathologist is to be able to examine an anatomical sample and

to determine whether the sample is normal or abnormal, and if it is abnormal, to
describe the abnormality. Anatomic pathology can be used in the diagnosis and
treatment of disease, to do everything from confirming that a surgeon removed all of
a tumor to diagnosing a particular form of kidney disease from a biopsy sample.

One of the more unique specialties within the field of anatomic pathology is
autopsy pathology, which involves the study of deceased individuals to learn how
they died. Autopsies are routinely requested in cases where a death is suspicious, or
when the cause of death is unclear. In forensic pathology, the pathologist studies the
body to learn not only how the person died, but when. This branch of pathology also
focuses on the collection of legal evidence.

Work in the field of anatomic pathology can be varied and quite rewarding.
Candidates interested in working in this area of medicine need to have excellent
attention to detail, along with great descriptive skills which will allow them to

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communicate clearly in pathology results. It can also help to have a high tolerance
for unpleasant sights and strong odors, as these frequently crop up in pathology
laboratories.

(http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-anatomic-pathology.htm)

2.2 DEFINITION : FORENSIC PATHOLOGIST

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 Forensic pathology is a branch of the field of pathology which applies the
principles of pathology to the legal profession. Forensic pathologists specialize in
examining bodies and evidence such as body fluids and tissue samples for the
purpose of gathering information which can be used in criminal investigation and
court trials. They are sometimes known as medical examiners, coroners, or simply
pathologists, depending on the region where they work.

Some people think that the term “forensics” refers to forensic pathology, which
generates considerable confusion when forensic accountants, forensic document
examiners, forensic psychiatrists, and other forensics professionals are discussed.
“Forensic” actually comes from the Latin forum, and it means “pertaining to a trial.”
The field of forensics was developed in the 1800s, when people began applying
scientific methods to criminal investigation and legal trials.

The field of pathology in general is focused on the study of disease and its
processes. A specialist in forensic pathology has training in this field, with additional
skills which can be applied to the legal field. For example, he or she can examine a
body to determine the cause of death, but the pathologist can also look for other
clues and information, such as defensive marks on the hands which might indicate
that the victim fought back while being attacked.

Forensic pathology can involve the study of bodies, a process known as

autopsy, or analysis of samples taken at crime scenes or from the body. In cases
where a complete body is not available for examination, the forensic pathologist can
gather information from the available materials which can be used in investigation
and eventual prosecution. They can also examine samples of tissue and body fluids
to look for toxins and signs which can provide additional clues into the nature of the
death, such as evidence that someone was suffocated and then submerged to make
the death look like a drowning.

In addition to being knowledgeable about human anatomy and pathology, a

forensic pathologist needs some additional skills. He or she must be able to collect
evidence properly and to maintain the chain of custody, ensuring that the evidence is
not compromised. It may also be necessary for forensic pathologists to testify on the

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witness stand in some cases, and in some instances, a specialist in forensic
pathology may be retained by the defense for the purpose of refuting claims made by
the specialist who works for the government or the prosecution.

(http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-forensic-pathology.htm)

2.3 SUMMARIZING

Pathology 9

as specialist
 The doctor that practices both
Clinical Pathologist Anatomical
is called Pathologist
GENERAL PATHOLOGIST

Sub-specialities

Dermatopathology Neuropathologist

Molecular Pathologist FORENSIC PATHOLOGIST

*stated only a few of the subspecialities of anatomical pathology

3.0 CLASSIFICATION : FORENSIC PATHOLOGY VS CLINICAL PATHOLOGY

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 Clinical pathology is a medical specialty that is concerned with the
diagnosis of disease based on the laboratory analysis of bodily fluids such as
blood and urine, and tissues using the tools of chemistry, microbiology,
hematology and molecular pathology. Clinical pathologists work in close
collaboration with medical technologists hospital administrations and referring
physicians to ensure the accuracy and optimal utilization of laboratory testing.

We accept the view that while every forensic pathologist needs to be a

competent morbid anatomist, the reverse statement does not follow: Many morbid
anatomists will never have the inclination to undertake forensic work, i.e. work for the
police or the criminal courts. The nature of the problems most often encountered in
criminal investigation is different from that most often encountered in clinical work.
So are the circumstances in which the two kinds of pathologists are called upon to
work. The Forensic Pathologist may be required in field work literally! There is also
a difference between writing an opinion for a colleague, and giving evidence
based on that opinion or being cross-examined on that opinion in the criminal
court. There are pathologists who feel attracted to this particular kind of challenge
and also have the ability to cope with it, and there are pathologists who do not feel
this urge and who may not have the right attributes. We conclude that the difference
between a clinical pathologist and a forensic pathologist is as much in the nature of
the man as the nature of the work.

Whilst it is certainly true that the difference between a clinical pathologist and
a forensic pathologist is in the nature of the person performing the task as well as the
nature of the work, it is not true to say that forensic pathology can be carried
out only by medical practitioners with a certain type of personality. Instead, this
personal aspect of the difference between clinical and forensic pathologists is
accounted for by training and experience. The forensic pathologist has to be
trained in, and develop an understanding and aptitude for, the legal process of
investigation in conjunction with their knowledge of the scientific process of
investigation. These two approaches to investigating matters are quite distinct and
few medical practitioners have any real understanding of or feel for the legal
investigative method. It is a knowledge of the role that legal systems play in
society, as well as an understanding of the legal process and legal method, that
distinguish forensic pathologists from their clinical counterparts. Certainly there are

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areas of specialist factual knowledge that forensic pathologists are familiar with
that their clinical counterparts are not.

However, simply acquiring factual knowledge on forensic issues will not

provide a clinical pathologist with sufficient skills to undertake forensic work.
A practical result of this difference is that forensic pathology does not sit
comfortably within a professional clinical pathology environment. Indeed, the
service requirements of forensic pathology mean that the service is usually more
efficiently provided by specialist forensic pathologists working together and
providing a broad based regional forensic pathology service for a range of
clients.

3.1 CLASSIFICATION : FORENSIC PATHOLOGY VS CORONER

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 In order to examine the role of the forensic pathologist, it is essential to
understand the development of death investigation systems including the role the
coroner plays in such jurisdictions. The office of coroner has its roots in Norman
times where death investigation had associated with it important political and
financial considerations. Coroners were associated with the collection of a number
of fines and taxes that could be levied by the Crown in association with certain types
of deaths. Deodands comprised taxes paid to the Crown that were based on the
financial value of the implement or object that had caused a person's unnatural
death, so that if a person was run over by a cart, the cart or its value was forfeited to
the Crown as a tax and the coroner was responsible for ensuring that the tax was
paid. Similarly the fine of presentment of Englishry was payable by a local
community if the coroner found that a deceased person was not of English blood.

The role of the coroner in criminal matters relating to death was limited,
although the coroner had the ability to ensure that potential criminal matters
were brought within the criminal justice system. Their main function in relation to
crime was to keep a check on the sheriff and to ensure that revenues such as
fines reached the King. With regard to the prevention of deaths, the coroner had
little or no direct function, although some early coroners made attempts to
highlight hazards in the community and to reduce their impact.

Over time, the coroner's role diminished and the office became an onerous
one with the coroner having to pay many of the fees associated with the work out of
his own pocket. Early coroners were not necessarily medically or legally trained, and
many of the early coroners’ appointments were essentially political rather than
professional.

Today the approach of coroners in Australia differs from that of coroners

in England and Wales. Much of the function of the office of coroners in Australia is
focused on prevention, with the coroner empowered to make broad
recommendations surrounding the issues of public health and safety and judicial
administration. Such an approach gives the coroner a dynamic function in
contributing to the welfare of the community. In this modern framework the role of the
full-time forensic pathologist has been revitalized. The forensic pathologist is not

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involved only with the investigation of suspicious deaths that may have a criminal
connotation. Instead, the forensic pathologists role has been widened to include a
wide range of natural and unintentional deaths, investigation of which, can lead to
improvements in the health and safety of the community. In conjunction with the
coroner, the forensic pathologist is a watchdog who maintains a constant
surveillance on potential fatal hazards in our society and ensures that preventable
deaths are recognized and the issues surrounding them addressed.

4.0 PATHWAY TO BECOME FORENSIC PATHOLOGY

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 You need advanced training to become a pathologist. As an undergraduate,
you should major in premedical studies, a biological science, chemistry, or a related
field. It generally takes four years to earn a bachelor's degree and another one or
two years to obtain a master's degree.

Medical pathologists usually go to medical school for four years after they
graduate from college. They receive the degree of doctor of medicine (M.D.). In
some cases they spend six years in medical school and earn a doctoral degree
in pathology in addition to their medical degree.

After medical school, pathologists spend about four more years in a

hospital as a resident in pathology. If they choose, they may also take additional
training in one of the subspecialties in medical pathology.

Medical pathologists need to be licensed by their state to practice

medicine and must also be certified by the American Board of Pathology.

Medical pathologists are likely to spend a total of at least twelve years in

training before they are fully qualified in their profession. Pathologists must spend
time reading and studying throughout their careers in order to keep up with new
developments in their field.

(http://careers.stateuniversity.com/pages/412/Pathologist.html)

5.0 SUB-SPECIALITIES OF ANATOMICAL PATHOLOGY

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5.1 SURGICAL PATHOLOGY
Surgical pathology is the most significant and time-consuming area of practice for
most anatomical pathologists. Surgical pathology involves the gross and microscopic
examination of surgical specimens, as well as biopsies submitted by non-surgeons
such as general internists, medical subspecialists, dermatologists, and interventional
radiologists. Surgical pathology increasingly requires technologies and skills
traditionally associated with clinical pathology such as molecular diagnostics.

5.2 RENAL PATHOLOGY

Renal pathology is a sub-discipline of anatomical pathology concerned with the
diagnosis of medical (non-tumor) kidney diseases, including both native kidneys and
transplants. Renal pathologists routinely employ techniques of immunofluorescence
and electron microscopy, in addition to light microscopy, for kidney biopsy and
nephrectomy specimens. The renal pathologist integrates the microscopic findings
from these three techniques along with the clinical presentation of the patient and the
patient's clinical laboratory results to arrive at a diagnosis.

5.3 CYTOPATHOLOGY
Cytopathology is a sub-discipline of anatomical pathology concerned with the
microscopic examination of whole, individual cells obtained from smears or fine
needle aspirates. Cytopathologists are trained to perform fine-needle aspirates of
superficially located organs, masses, or cysts, and are often able to render an
immediate diagnosis in the presence of the patient and consulting physician. In the
case of screening tests such as the Papanicolaou smear, non-physician
cytotechnologists are often employed to perform initial reviews, with only positive or
uncertain cases examined by the pathologist. Cytopathology is a board-certifiable
subspecialty in the U.S.

5.4 MOLECULAR PATHOLOGY

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Molecular pathology is an emerging discipline within pathology, and focuses in the
study and diagnosis of disease through the examination of molecules within organs,
tissues or bodily fluids. Molecular pathology shares some aspects of practice with
both anatomic pathology and clinical pathology, molecular biology, biochemistry,
proteomics and genetics, and is sometimes considered a "crossover" discipline. It is
multi-disciplinary in nature and focuses mainly on the sub-microscopic aspects of
disease and unknown illnesses with strange causes.

It is a scientific discipline that encompasses the development of molecular and

genetic approaches to the diagnosis and classification of human tumors, the design
and validation of predictive biomarkers for treatment response and disease
progression, the susceptibility of individuals of different genetic constitution to
develop cancer, and the environmental and lifestyle factors implicated in
carcinogenesis.

5.5 AUTOPSY PATHOLOGY

General anatomical pathologists are trained in performing autopsies, which are used
to determine the disease factors contributing to a person's death. Autopsies are
important in the ongoing medical education of clinicians, and in efforts to improve
and verify the quality of medical care. Dieners are non-physicians who assist
pathologists in the gross dissection portion of the autopsy. The recently established
field of Pathologists Assistant has taken over the role of Diener and contributes a
great deal to the pre-diagnosis of disease within the pathology laboratory. Autopsies
represent less than 10% of the workload of typical pathologists in the United States. ]
However, the autopsy is central to public perceptions of the field, in part due to
portrayals of pathologists on television programs such as Quincy, M.E. and Silent
Witness.

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5.6 DERMATOPATHOLOGY
Dermatopathology is a subspecialty of anatomic pathology that focuses on the skin
as an organ. It is unique in that there are two routes which a physician can use to
obtain this specialization. All general pathologists and general dermatologists are
trained in the pathology of the skin; however, the dermatopathologist is a specialist in
this organ. In the USA, either a general pathologist or a dermatologist can undergo a
1 to 2 year fellowship in the field of dermatopathology. The completion of this
fellowship allows one to take a subspecialty board examination, and becomes a
board certified dermatpathologist.

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anatomical_pathology)

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pathology)

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6.0 FAQS : PATHOLOGY & FORENSIC PATHOLOGY

1 Q. What is forensic pathology?

A. Forensic pathology is the subspecialty of pathology that focuses on the
medicolegal investigation of sudden or unexpected death.
2 Q. How many years of schooling and training does it take to become a
forensic pathologist?
A. After high school you'll have to undertake:

 4 years of college, to get a bachelors degree

 4 years of medical school, to get the doctor of medicine (MD) degree
 4 or 5 years of residency (4 for anatomic pathology only, or 5 for
combined anatomic/clinical pathology, the latter track being
recommended) to become eligible to take the Board exams in
pathology
 1 or 2 years of forensic pathology fellowship, to be eligible to take the
subspecialty Board exam in forensic pathology

3 Q. Wow! Thirteen to fifteen years after high school before you can get a
job? To hell with that!
A. It's not as bad as it sounds. Of course you have to pay tuition and living
expenses for the eight years of college and med school, but residents and
fellows earn a decent living wage (about $26,000/yr to start). From what I've
seen, the people who get in trouble financially are those that insist on starting
families while still in school and borrow a lot of money to finance a middle-
class, American-dream lifestyle. When they finally finish training, they are
beset with the payback of onerous loans. On the other hand, if you're single,
live in not-the-best neighborhoods, and split expenses with housemates, med
school is very affordable, even fun.
4 Q. What do forensic pathologists do at work?
A. Forensic pathologists split their time among

1) performing autopsies,

2) acquiring data from investigating officers, and

3) testifying in court.

Occasionally they may visit scenes of crimes or accidents, but I think this is
uncommon for most.
5 Q. What personality characteristics are required in a good forensic
pathologist?
A. Varying combinations of the following ingredients:

 A talent for and interest in science. This should include not only
biology, but physics, chemistry, and the social sciences (anthropology
and psychology). For the bread-and-butter technical part of your work,

19
 you should especially have a good grasp of spatial relationships.
 Good communication skills. You will not only be interacting with law
officers, but you'll be trying to convince judges and juries that your
findings are valid.
 Strong stomach. You'll be routinely dealing with dismembered and/or
rotting bodies. From a pure visceral standpoint there is no job more
disgusting than forensic pathology.
 Thick skin. You will be periodically raked over the coals by the local
media, who apparently cannot to resist the urge to armchair-
quarterback your work. You will also make many enemies among the
citizenry. For instance, when you determine that Daddy killed himself,
and he wasn't poisoned by that blond bimbo who was only interested in
his money, you are going to have some very angry children buzzing
around you.
 The mind of a detective. You will have to constantly be on guard
against being fooled by malefactors smarter and more focused than
you. You will have to have some insight into the heart and mind of a
criminal.

6 Q. Where should I go to high school/college? Where should I do my

pathology residency/forensic pathology fellowship?
A. You can go to high school anywhere. At any school, rich or poor, public or
private, most of the teachers are mediocre, a few are totally incompetent, and
a few are wonderful. The bottom line is that you, the student, are ultimately
responsible for your education. Even if you are so unfortunate as to be the
victim of uniformly abysmal teaching, the information is out there, and it is up
to you to get it. Also, if you develop good time management skills in high
school, college will not only be easier, but fun, too. The potential for an
enjoyable social life in college is great, but you have to come armed with a
sense of priorities to succeed both socially and academically on campus.

The choice of college is a little more important. I am going to tell you right off
that I have a strong bias against two-year colleges (from which you could
theoretically transfer to complete your premedical education at a four-year
college). These are cold, dismal places populated by desperate students
whose joie de vivre was left behind years ago. At eighteen, you don't need
this.

I have a smaller bias against large, state-sponsored, four-year universities.

For one thing, you are lost in the crowd. More importantly, your huge survey-
level classes are often taught by unmotivated graduate students who may or
may not be able to speak understandable English. Do you really want this?
(Of course, many grads of large universities are quick to defend their almae
matres, such as one individual whose e-mailed argument was so eloquent
that I just had to post it here.)

This leaves four-year liberal arts colleges, which I highly recommend. Believe
me, twenty years later, you'll be happy you made this choice. I think the
college education is the single most important (but least appreciated) part of

20
 one's education. Its value is subtle, though, and it may take decades for its
promise to flower.

Medical school is an easy choice: go to the cheapest one you can get into.
The quality of education is the same in every U.S. school. You have the same
textbooks, the same human bodies with the same diseases, and the same
quality of faculty. Unfortunately, faculty members in med schools are not hired
or promoted based on their teaching skills, but on their practice skills and
research accomplishments. Don't get me wrong; there are plenty of excellent
medical educators, but you never know where they'll turn up.

The choice of residency is more important. I strongly suggest a program

associated with a university, not a private hospital (although you can rotate at
private hospitals under the aegis of university-based teaching programs). So
much of the value of a residency program depends on the rapport between
residents and faculty. This is a hard parameter to measure from a distance,
so you should consider doing a med school pathology elective in one or more
of the departments you are looking at for residency training. It is usually easy
to arrange this, even between schools in different states.

Regarding your forensic pathology fellowship, you will have to go to a big

city to get sufficient experience. You will want to look for a program in which
the fellow (you) does about 250 autopsies a year. Too many less than that,
and you won't get enough experience. Too many more, and you'll be so busy
you won't have time to read, study, and do thorough workups on your cases.
Of course, you will also want to look for a place that has senior faculty you
can respect and have rapport with.

7 Q. What are the advantages of being a forensic pathologist?

A. The hours are better than for most other physicians, but this is not a nine-
to-five office job by any means. Don't even think about going to med school if
you are a clock-watcher.

You have the satisfaction of not only helping to put criminals away, but of
comforting grieving families, thus, "It was over very quickly. She did not
suffer."

The job is very challenging, and boredom will not be a problem.

(http://web2.airmail.net/uthman/forensic_career.html)

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7.0 BIBILIOGRAPHY

1. David Ranson, The Role of Forensic Pathology

2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pathology
3. http://careers.stateuniversity.com/pages/412/Pathologist.html
4. http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-anatomic-pathology.htm
5. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anatomical_pathology
6. http://web2.airmail.net/uthman/forensic_career.html

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