Forensic Pathology Field of Study
Forensic pathology entails the study of the effects of:
1. Trauma.
2. Injury.
3. Unnatural diseases on the human body.
Forensic pathologists are interested in accidental, suicidal, and
homicidal deaths where tissue damage is the main finding.
o Cases of poisoning are a part of the field of forensic
pathology. (Not all poisons cause tissue damage).
Circumstances under which deaths are seen as
unnatural.
Forensic pathologists are interested in deaths that could be
classified as possibly unnatural.
Natural deaths:
o Heart attack.
o Stroke.
o Kidney failure.
o Complications related to Covid-19.
Circumstances under which deaths are seen as unnatural:
o Deaths due to violence and the consequences of the injuries
that result in death.
This could be cases of homicide, suicide, or accidents.
Consequences of injuries that may result in death
include infections such as lung infections, blood clots
through the lungs and tetanus or rabies after a dog bite.
o Deaths resulting from external physical factors that impact
the body.
Eg. When individuals die in a vehicle accident when
they are struck by lightning or die during a natural
disaster such as a flood.
,o Death resulting from the effect of a chemical substance.
Eg. When individuals die as a result of poisoning or a
drug overdose.
o When an unaesthetic was administered or the person had a
surgical procedure shortly before death.
It includes all types of anaesthetic (local or general).
E.g. Deaths after administration of local anaesthetic for
tooth extraction to administration of a general
anaesthetic for large surgical procedures such as heart
surgery.
o When a person dies suddenly without a pre-existing illness or
if the death is unexplained.
o Any death, including deaths that would otherwise be
classified as being “natural” where it is suspected that the
death was due to an act or neglect to act by any person
including medical staff.
A post-mortem examination (Autopsy) must be
performed by a forensic pathologist.
, Role of the forensic pathologist at the scene of
death
When a forensic pathologist attends a scene of death, their role is:
o Pronounce/confirm the death.
o Determine the manner of death, which can be judged:
Natural.
Accidental.
Homicidal.
Suicidal.
Undetermined.
o Determine the time of death (Postmortem interval), by
studying the post-mortem changes:
Rigor mortis.
Hypostasis.
Cooling.
Decomposition.
Insects start a life cycle on the body.
o Obtain clues and information at the scene to clarify what
occurred at the scene of death.
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