Forensic Autopsies

As the global shortage of forensic pathologists becomes evident, it has become necessary to cast a spotlight on the crucial profession at the intersection of medicine and justice. The role of a forensic pathologist, a medical doctor equipped with the skills to unlock the mysteries hidden within the deceased, is one of meticulous examination, scientific insight, and legal significance.

Forensic pathologists are medical doctors who conduct autopsies – a set of detailed tests and examinations on the body – to determine the time, cause, mechanism, and manner of unexpected or violent deaths. Pathology is the study of the causes and effects of injuries and disease, and its application in the forensic world means the work of forensic pathologists has both medical and legal facets to it. A forensic pathologist often confirms a body’s identification, evaluates death scene evidence and performs autopsies to uncover further critical evidence (Cleveland Clinic). For example, they might identify wound patterns to establish what kind of weapon, down to the exact kind of firearm, was used. They can establish the manner of death (suicide, homicide, a specific disease, blunt force trauma, etc.) and can identify the mechanism of death (the agent used, such as a gun, knife, or poison) but cannot establish intent.

If you’ve watched any sort of crime show or crime drama, you may have noticed that the forensic pathologist or medical examiner is always wearing a face mask, goggles, and face shield during an examination. Cadavers are by default considered infectious, and almost anyone in the autopsy room is at risk for fluid and tissue contamination from the body. During forensic autopsies, an external, visual exam is first done – the body is weighed and measured, while physical and demographic features such as age, race, eye and hair color, and sex are determined. The subject’s clothes are removed while the body, skin, and nails are inspected for residue; at this time, marks (such as scars and tattoos) are also noted, as they may help with identification.

Next, internal organs must also be closely examined, although incisions in the skin needed to view, remove, measure, and dissect organs are “made in a manner that allows the funeral director to conceal them for the viewing service and funeral” (Maryland Health). The body also has toxicology tests run on it for the presence of alcohol, drugs, and diseases, which may cause the death certification to be made “pending” until results are obtained. Fluid samples, such as bile, blood, and gastric fluids are obtained, while the organs are placed back into the body. In the case of gunshot wounds, the wound path is traced to recover bullet or bullet fragments. Probing gunshot entry and exit may also help to establish the “position of the shooter in relation to the victim at the time of the shooting” (Officer). The entire process may take 2-4 hours, while the results of lab tests may take a few weeks to be returned.

Hair is specially combed and examined as fiber evidence is often entrapped, which may prove critical to the investigation and forensic evidence. In cases of rape, the pubic regions of the body are “examined for any evidence of semen or body fluids and potential hair from the perpetrator” (Officer).

While family members have the right to object to autopsies for various reasons, including religious beliefs, state law sometimes requires an autopsy to be performed by a medical examiner. In conducting the tests on the body, forensic pathologists may also call in the expertise of forensic dentists (especially to confirm identification via dental records) and forensic anthropologists.

Forensic autopsies are performed when the death is associated with criminal violence, electrocution, intoxication, suspected drowning, or police action. It is also performed when the body is skeletonized, charred, or unidentified. Beyond providing closure and laying the foundation of a criminal investigation, autopsies are a rather urgent matter for a victim’s family, as “uncertainty regarding the cause of an individual’s death can delay payment of insurance benefits.”

When no foul play is involved, an autopsy can uncover a genetic disease that could affect and be lethal to other family members.

The road to becoming a forensic pathologist is a long one. One must first complete medical school after obtaining a bachelor’s degree because forensic pathologists must be licensed doctors. They must have “at least three years of advanced medical education in a residency training program,” must pass board certification exams by the American Board of Pathology and must have undertaken at least 5 years of post-graduate training to specialize in forensic pathology (Cleveland Clinic). It usually takes around 13 years to become a forensic pathologist.

The path to becoming a forensic pathologist is spans years of rigorous education, training, and specialized study. Yet forensic pathology is a field of dedication and purpose, where knowledge and skill work to answer the questions surrounding death. As society begins to increasingly feel the scarcity of these crucial experts, we are reminded of the profound impact they have on justice and the peace they bring to the lives they touch.

Sources:

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/24614-forensic-pathologist

https://nij.ojp.gov/topics/articles/overview-forensic-pathology

https://health.maryland.gov/ocme/Pages/Forensic-Autopsy.aspx

https://www.pcom.edu/academics/programs-and-degrees/forensic-medicine/news/what-is-an-autopsy.html

https://www.britannica.com/topic/autopsy/Forensic-autopsy

https://www.washoecounty.gov/coroner/faq/when_is_autopsy_performed.php