Pathology

Catalog description

The student will understand and be able to describe orally, the basic principles of the medicolegal autopsy through observation of postmortem dissections and assisting the forensic pathologist. The student will learn the principles of death scene investigation. The student will appreciate the importance of toxicology in the correct determination of cause and manner of death through the interpretation of toxicology reports and consultations with the chief forensic toxicologist. The student will understand the role of physical evidence collected at the scene and autopsy as it pertains to the determination of cause and manner of death. The student will be assigned to the autopsy suite and will be supervised by the on-duty designated forensic pathologist. As time permits the student will accompany the coroner or deputy coroner to court to observe trial testimony. Students will be evaluated according to the objectives listed above. Prerequisite: Medical basic sciences.