9781422273470

Forensic pathologists are responsible for signing death certificates and determining the cause of death.

are understandably traumatized by the death of a loved one, and they naturally desire closure. Often, family members want to know how their loved one died, even if the answer is not the most pleasant one. As a medico-legal specialty, forensic pathology has responsibilities to both the legal system and the healthcare system. The legal responsibilities of medical examiners involve maintaining chain of custody over evidence, performing autopsies to the standards prescribed by their state regulators and working with law enforcement to gather information that can help to solve crimes. They are formally responsible for signing death certificates and determining both the cause and manner of death whenever possible. Medical examiners are also responsible for maintaining the privacy of autopsies and their results. Law enforcement and family members are

12

Pathology