Pathologist – what is his job? Specializations and activities

A forensic pathologist is a doctor who examines the causes of diseases and deaths, cooperating with the court and adjudicating for the court. This is a specific specialization, after which students go to the laboratory or cooperate with the court administration. Thanks to the work of pathologists, the true causes of death are discovered. Often, pathologists are referred to as “last contact doctors” or “cold surgeons”. They participate in post-mortem examinations at the request of the court, discovering or exposing the causes of death. This kind of science has been known since 1795, when a cathedral was established in Paris, where it was studied how to recognize traces left on the body of a deceased.

What areas does the pathologist deal with?

The pathologist helps in recognizing the causes of death, which is why contact with law enforcement agencies is a constant element of his work. Within pathology, we distinguish, among others, the following areas:

1. pathomorphology – it is the diagnosis of the disease on the basis of morphological changes (changes related to the structure of tissues and organs);
2. histopathology – one of the areas of pathomorphology that focuses on the microscopic examination of cells and tissues of the body;
3. immunopathology – a field focused on studying disorders of the immune system;
4. neuropathology – studying disorders and abnormalities within the nervous system;
5. logopathology – examining speech abnormalities and disorders;
6. osteopathology – abnormalities in the functioning of the skeletal system and bones;
7. psychopathology – the study of abnormalities of mental illness phenomena;
8. sexual pathologies;
9. social pathologies.

Pathologist – tasks

In the case of this specialization, explaining the causes of death is in the foreground. Anyone who chooses to study medicine and considers this specialty must know that it is one of the hardest and least pleasant branches of medicine. You often have to attend post-mortem examinations and deal with advanced decomposition bodies. In addition to explaining and investigating the irregularities and causes of diseases, the task of the pathologist is also:

1. analyzing diseases,
2. explaining the causes of deaths,
3. inspection of the body,
4. examination of system disorders,
5. analyzing the development of diseases and pathologies occurring within the organism.

Forensic pathologist – what is his job?

The cooperation of the pathologist with law enforcement authorities mainly consists in recognizing the signs and causes of violent and unnatural death, in the case of which there is a suspicion of a crime, which is why an autopsy is often performed in the presence of a prosecutor. A forensic physician should distinguish, for example, whether the body was thrown into the water after death, or whether it was the drowning that caused the death. In the same way, in the case of fire victims, must be able to distinguish whether the body was burnt after death or whether the fire was the cause of death? The same is true of suffocation victims or those who attempted to fake suicide. In most situations, the pathologist must cooperate with specialists in other fields. The autopsy begins with an inspection, measurement and taking the necessary photos, and then the corpse is opened, the internal organs are examined and the tissues, blood samples or DNA are secured.