About Pathology
The term pathology refers to the field of scientific inquiry that explores the character of diseases through the way they interact with the body's organs, fluid systems and cells. It includes the study of their cause, transmission, physiological implications and treatment. There are several distinct branches of pathology, including clinical application, veterinary application and general study. However, one of the most prevalent branches of pathology is forensics, a field that endeavors to discover cause of death through the assessment of dead tissue.
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Clinical Pathology
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Clinical pathology is a field physicians may specialize in after they have received their basic medical training. These specialized professionals, referred to as pathologists, study diseases and their effect on the body in living patients. They are responsible for analyzing samples of organ tissue, blood, urine and other anatomical matter to make a diagnosis of illness. Pathologists often work in laboratories and have little interaction with patients as most primary physicians or specialty physicians communicate the pathologist's results.
Clinical Pathology Specialties
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While clinical pathology is a subset of the field of pathology, it in turn has several subdivisions. Clinical hematology specializes in the nature of blood-based diseases, clinical microbiology focuses on the characteristics of bacteria and viruses. Dermatopathology concentrates on the diagnoses of skin diseases such as melanoma.
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Forensic Pathology
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Forensic pathology is an essential field not only in medical examination but also judicial law. Forensic pathologists, also known as medical examiners, are responsible for discovering an individual's cause of death by examining their tissue through an autopsy. Autopsies are comprehensive postmortem exams that, in addition to establishing cause of death, provide information to the examiner on the medical history and lifestyle. They are often employed by lawyers in court cases to provide evidence of wrongful death as well as hypothesize about the circumstances surrounding the death.
Forensic Pathologists in Popular Culture
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Forensic pathologists have become culturally popularized over the past 15 years due to an increased attention to their professional role on several high-profile television programs. Throughout the 1990s, the profession was highlighted on the long-running science-fiction show "The X-Files" as one of the main characters, Dana Scully, is a forensic pathologist. Similarly, the most recent incarnation of the "Law and Order" franchise, "Law and Order: Special Victims Unit" prominently features the work of medical examiner Melinda Warner.
American Board of Pathologists
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In America, certification for both clinical and forensic pathologists is overseen by the American Board of Pathologists. It administers the exams and resident programs required for a physician to become licensed as a pathologist.
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