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Forensic pathologists have a set of overlapping duties with coroners around finding the true causes of death, but forensic pathologists are able to perform medical operations while coroners may specialize in the legal paperwork and law enforcement side of a death.

What is forensic pathology? Forensic pathology is a subspecialty of pathology that investigates non-natural or suspicious deaths, often referred to as reportable deaths. Forensic pathology focuses on determining the cause of death via postmortem examinations or autopsies. What is a reportable death?

Forensic pathologists, or medical examiners, are specially trained physicians who examine the bodies of people who died suddenly, unexpectedly, or violently.

There are three levels of an autopsy including: Complete: The whole body cavities are examined. Limited: A single organ such as the heart or brain. Selective: The chest, abdomen, and brain are examined.

The Coroner is usually not a physician, and is not trained in medicine, Forensic Medicine or Forensic Science. A Medical Examiner is required to be a physician, certified by the American Board of Pathology in the medical specialty of Forensic Pathology, and experienced in the Forensic Sciences.

What Is the Difference Between a Forensic Scientist and a Forensic Pathologist. While a forensic scientist analyzes physical evidence for clues about a crime scene, a forensic pathologist performs an autopsy to determine the manner and a cause of death.

Pathology is the science of the causes and effects of diseases, typically determined through lab tests of body tissues and fluids. A medical examiner can perform autopsies and is appointed, not elected. Forensic pathology specifically focuses on determining a cause of death by examining a body.