Definition of Forensic Pathology
Forensic pathology is specialty of pathology that focuses on the medical investigation of an unexpected or sudden death. Pathology is the medical discipline that deals with the examination of a body's tissues, fluids and properties. There are two types of pathology. One is anatomic pathology, which deals with examination by the senses and a microscope. Clinical pathology involves examination using laboratory equipment, which is useful for toxicology research. Forensic pathology can require up to 12 or more years of study after high school.
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Education
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To be a forensic pathologist, you must graduate from high school and take four years of college to obtain a bachelor's degree. Four more years of medical school is required to get a doctor of medicine degree. After medical school, four years or residency is needed for study in anatomic pathology or five years for anatomic and clinical pathology. One to two years of fellowship is required after medical school. This allows you to take exams administered by the American Board of Pathology. After passing these exams, you become a board-certified forensic pathologist.
Preparation
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When preparing to be a forensic pathologist, taking science classes will help you get into medical school. Once in medical school, having the opportunity to do an autopsy early in your study will help you decide whether forensic pathology is right for you.
Characteristics
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To have interest in forensic pathology, you should have interest in science and medicine. Biology, chemistry, anatomy, physics and psychology are some of the major components. Forensic pathologist must also possess good communications skills to obtain information and relay evidence in courts. They might also be the target of media and other individuals to credit or discredit cases. Forensic pathologist should also be strong-willed and strong-stomached because they will have to deal with many types of dead bodies.
Salary
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The salary of forensic pathologist can be between $60,000 and $70,000 a year to $200,000 a year or more. Because most forensic pathologists are employed by the government, they have federal benefits such as health care insurance and retirement. Location is also important because salaries can differ from state to state. However, those who become publicized and skilled can become experts in their field and might be flown around to lend expert opinions on high-profile cases.
Hollywood Forensics
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Hollywood forensics, or television-dramatized forensic pathology, has its accuracies and misconceptions. Some of the techniques, equipment and investigative methods they use might be accurate, but most dramatized forensic experts act too much like brilliant detectives. They make outrageous claims, such as using minutes to make a time of death estimate or solving cases that could otherwise takes weeks or months.
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