Every day will be different and travel will be required. A flexible approach to working – the working life of a forensic pathologist is unconventional compared with other specialties.Good communication skills – you’ll need to prepare comprehensive technical reports on your findings but testify on them in court to a lay audience.You’ll be in contact with other pathologists, as well as people in the criminal justice system, such as police, barristers and lawyers. You’ll be in contact with other pathologists, as well as people in the criminal justice system, such as barristers. You’ll mostly work independently, with the support of police, procurators fiscal and coroners’ officers, and mortuary staff. They will also conduct autopsies in cases of unexplained death.ĭr Stuart John Hamilton Consultant Forensic Pathologist What will my working environment be like?Īs a forensic pathologist, your time will be split between mortuaries, hospitals, the courts, and, sometimes, crime scenes, which will require regular travel. While most of their work focuses on suspicious deaths, they are sometimes called on to interpret the injuries of live victims to assist criminal cases. And they are responsible for attending a variety of courts to explain details of cases they’re working on to juries as well as relatives.Īlongside this, forensic pathologists share duties with their colleagues across cellular pathology – writing reports to share their findings and teaching trainees in their profession. Their findings can play a fundamental role in bringing perpetrators to justice. Because of this, forensic pathologists usually carry out examinations under the authority of a coroner or procurator fiscal. They may follow a case from a crime scene through to giving evidence in criminal court.Ī key aspect of their role is performing autopsies on the bodies of people who have died in suspicious circumstances – such as suicide, suspected homicides or deaths in custody. Forensic pathologists specialise in performing post mortems for medical and legal purposes, to understand the cause and manner of death. In Scotland, this responsibility lies with procurators fiscal. Forensic pathologists provide vital expertise in cases where a person has died in suspicious circumstances.įorensic pathology is a service provided to coroners and police forces in England and Wales to assist investigations into homicide or suspicious deaths. Forensic pathology is perhaps one of the most well-known pathology specialties – it’s also one of the smallest.
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