Forensic pathology

Abstract

This chapter discusses the basic concepts of forensic pathology in medicolegal investigations of injury fatalities. In the USA, the medicolegal death investigations are conducted by the medical examiner's office or coroner's office. In many cases of fatal injuries, the forensic pathologists are the only doctors involved in data collection in terms of injury prevention. The chapter includes a brief introduction to medicolegal death investigation systems, the basic concept of forensic pathology, such as cause and manner of death, followed by a relatively detailed discussion of some common types of injuries associated with deaths. The final section of the chapter includes a discussion of the role of forensic pathology in public health and safety.