What Are the Dangers of Forensic Pathology?
Forensic pathology is the study of people who are deceased. Employees in this field are usually medical examiners or pathology assistants who as a team perform autopsies to shed light on how a person died. While the job can be stomach-churning for some people, it can also be unsafe as there are some dangers in forensic pathology.
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Disease
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Forensic pathologists come into contact with blood and other bodily fluids on a daily basis as they perform autopsies on the deceased. Even after death, these fluids can still carry some diseases which can be transmitted to workers in forensic pathology who aren't wearing protective equipment or practicing safe techniques while performing their job.
Chemicals
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Medical examiners and other workers in forensic pathology have contact with dangerous chemicals in their work. Formaldehyde is one chemical forensic pathologists might be exposed to as it is used in the preservation of human bodies after death, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified it as a cause of cancer according to the National Cancer Institute. Many job descriptions for medical examiners list exposure to carcinogenic chemicals as part of the risk and dangers of the position.
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Trauma
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Forensic pathologists are often required to perform autopsies on victims who died in a violent or traumatic manner. These cases can be disturbing for both new and seasoned professionals in the field causing stress if the pathologist can't find an outlet for their feelings and experience. As stress builds in an individual, it can become dangerous as it causes both physical and mental health problems.
Court
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In criminal cases a forensic pathologist is often called to testify about how a person died. This can be intimidating for medical examiners, especially those new to the field. Some criminals taunt or threaten witnesses, such as the pathologist who they feel are responsible for putting them behind bars. While this is rare for medical examiners, it is a possible danger.
Rewards
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Although dangers exist in forensic pathology, many professionals in the field take comfort in helping the victims of crimes and the family members of loved ones who died. Others enjoy the challenge presented by forensic pathology, which is to determine how a person died. Even though the physical appearance of someone's body may indicate a specific cause of death, it isn't always that easy to determine.
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