Forensic pathology - Definition and Overview

Forensic pathology is the legal branch of pathology concerned with:

• Determining cause of death (including murder, accident or unexpected death)
• Examination of some wounds and injuries due to crime or negligence
• Examination of tissue specimens that may be relevant to rape, or other crimes.

Forensic pathologists work closely with the coroner (British tradition) or medical examiner (American tradition). The examination of dead bodies (autopsy) is a subset of anatomical pathology.