What Does a Pathologist Do in a Crime Scene to Help Solve It?
Pathologists work in a number of fields, including forensics or crime scene investigation. A forensic pathologist, sometimes called a coroner or medical examiner, relies on his extensive medical and forensic training to reconstruct pieces of a crime scene, aiding investigators in determining how victims died or how they were attacked, among other pieces of evidence.
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Training
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A forensic pathologist is a medical doctor, and so goes through extensive training before being able to participate in crime investigations. A candidate must earn a bachelor's degree and take pre-med classes. To enter medical school, the applicant must take the MCAT as well as undergo an interview and other application requirements. A forensic pathologist must complete all four years of medical school, followed by a forensic pathology residency and further training and certification.
Autopsies
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Just because a doctor performs an autopsy, that doctor is not necessarily a pathologist. Doctors who perform autopsies will consult or help a forensic pathologist when the cause of death is not clear-cut. A forensic pathologist who is conducting an autopsy will focus his attention on the soft tissue in the body, looking for injuries as well as changes to the composition of the tissue that give clues to the cause of death.
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Putting Together Pieces
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During an autopsy, a forensic pathologist looks for clues that pertain to a crime scene, helping to piece together the crime to aid investigators in their pursuit of the aggressor. Forensic pathologists will examine any wounds on a victim's body, looking for patterns that indicate what weapon caused the wounds as well as determining in what order different wounds were inflicted. A forensic pathologist will also use dental records and other methods to identify a victim. An autopsy will help a forensic pathologist uncover clues of activities a victim engaged in prior to the crime, such as what they ate and possibly where.
Live Victims
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While forensic pathologists may be well known for their work in examining dead individuals found at a crime scene, forensic pathologists also examine live victims. When examining a live victim, a forensic pathologist looks for clues that indicate how a victim was injured in an attack, including what type of instrument or weapon was used in the attack. Forensic pathologists apply some of the same methods and principles they use for autopsies to the examination of live victims.
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References
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