Essential forensic pathology

A myriad of different scenarios await those entering the field of forensic pathology, ranging from gunshot wounds to asphyxiation to explosives to death from addiction. Essential Forensic Pathology: Core Studies and Exercises helps prepare pathologists in training by establishing what they must know about the most common death scenes they will encounter.

The book begins by discussing the coaching objectives in medical education and follows with a description of the 15 different rotations of the forensic pathology resident. Using a consistent and concise format, the book describes the facility where the rotation takes place, the necessary skills, the laboratory equipment, and other components of the rotation.

The main portion of the book presents forensic pathology essentials in the form of learning objectives--each delineated with a code: "M" for items students must know, and "S" for those they must do. This section begins by discussing the government--s role, describes medical examiner and coroner systems, and analyzes the academic discipline of forensic pathology. Next, the book focuses on hands-on elements of forensic pathology, with chapters on scene investigation, identification, and postmortem changes (signs of death). Objectives are also presented for various causes of death, including gunshot wounds, stab wounds, asphyxiation, sex-related death, and death from addiction. Additional chapters cover bombs and explosive devices, mental disease, epidemics, and issues related to forensic entomology.

Each chapter contains a list of pertinent vocabulary and references for further study. By mastering the objectives contained in each chapter of this manual, forensic pathology students will be ready to pass certification exams and work confidently in the field.

Section I: Introduction
Introduction: Coaching Objectives in Medical Education

Section II: A Program in Forensic Pathology
The Forensic Pathology Residency Program with Rotations

Section III: Forensic Pathology Essentials
The Governmental Role in Forensic Pathology

The Medical Examiner and Coroner Systems with Comparisons and Evaluations

The Academic Discipline of Forensic Pathology

Scene Investigation

Identification: Problems and Methods

Postmortem Changes (Signs of Death)

The Medical Legal Autopsy and the Ethics of Pathological Diagnosis by Forensic Pathologists, Suicide as a Topic Area in Forensic Pathology

The Cause and Mechanisms of Death: Natural Death and the Changes of Aging, Geriatric Pathology, and End-of-Life Care, Hospice Care, and Palliative Care

Sudden Death: Forensic Clinical Microbiology

Physical Trauma

Secondary Effects and Complications of Trauma

Gunshot Wounds

Incised and Stab Wounds

Asphyxiation

Blunt Force Injuries and Pediatric Homicide

Electrical and Thermal Injury

Gas Asphyxiation

Occupational Diseases

Sexual Deaths and Serial Deaths

Infanticide, Abortion, and Crib Death

Alcoholism and Deaths from Addiction

Analytical Toxicology

Classification of Death, Therapeutic Misadventures

Trace Evidence and Criminalistics, Forensic Science

Recent Advances in Medical Ethics Affecting Forensic Medicine and Pathology

International Forensic Medicine and Pathology Practice, Forensic Nursing, Epidemics and Laboratory Identifications

Urban Warfare and Nationalistic Weaponry

Bombs, Explosives, and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs)

Mental Disease, Paranoia, Aggression, and the Central Nervous System

The New Electronic Media, Forensic Informatics, Forensic Pathology on the Web, and Digital Forensics

The Asylum and the 60s: The Reform of Mental Disease Asylums and the Consequences from the 70s to Today

Epidemics and Public Health, Molecular Pathology

Why Did the Forensic Sciences Become Popular? The Story and Heritage of Ronald Kornblum, MD, Pathologist

Organizational Complexity in the Forensic Sciences

Forensic Sciences and the Military

Digital Forensics and Forensic Informatics, The New Web and Internet

Advanced Microscopic Techniques

Forensic Entomology in Forensic Pathology

Clinical Forensic Pathology

Practical Advice for Forensic Pathologists

Section IV: Dedication
Dedication to Russell S. Fisher, MD

Index