Editing Forensic pathology (section)

== Investigation of death ==
{{main|Coroner}}
[[File:Bản túc trình của Nha Hộ thành khám nghiệm tử thi bị giết chết năm Bảo Đại thứ 5 (1930) 02.jpg|thumb|right|A [[French Indochina|French Indochinese]] [[Autopsy#Forensic autopsy|forensic autopsy]] report of a [[murder]] victim killed in the year [[Bảo Đại]] 5 (1930).]] 

Pathologists determine the cause of death through postmortem examination or autopsy. There are three stages of death investigation: examination, correlation, and interpretation. Deaths where there is an unknown cause and those considered [[unnatural death|unnatural]] are investigated. In most [[jurisdiction]]s this is done by a ''"forensic pathologist",'' ''coroner'', ''medical examiner'', or hybrid ''medical examiner-coroner'' offices.

=== Methods ===
Forensic pathologists must be trained in several fields to succeed at their job. They utilize a wide variety of methods such as conducting autopsies which in itself has a variety of methods. Some of these methods require various identification techniques, including immunohistological studies, which can be valuable for determining the time of injury and assessing axonal damage resulting from traumatic brain injury<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Bertozzi |first1=Giuseppe |last2=Maglietta |first2=Francesca |last3=Sessa |first3=Francesco |last4=Scoto |first4=Edmondo |last5=Cipolloni |first5=Luigi |last6=Di Mizio |first6=Giulio |last7=Salerno |first7=Monica |last8=Pomara |first8=Cristoforo |date=2020-06-22 |title=Traumatic Brain Injury: A Forensic Approach: A Literature Review |url=https://www.eurekaselect.com/176333/article |journal=Current Neuropharmacology |language=en |volume=18 |issue=6 |pages=538–550 |doi=10.2174/1570159X17666191101123145 |pmc=7457403 |pmid=31686630}}</ref> When conducting an autopsy a forensic pathologist may take X-Rays, samples of bodily fluids, samples of tissues, and samples of bacterial culture found within the body.<ref>{{Cite web |title=What is a Forensic Pathologist? |url=https://hsc.unm.edu/omi/about/faq/forensic-pathologist.html |access-date=2022-03-03 |website=hsc.unm.edu}}</ref> While conducting the autopsy the forensic pathologist uses the stages of death as another method to inspect both the time of death and the amount of time the body has been deceased. Using the Information received during the autopsy paired with evidence provided by law enforcement provides the basis for the determination of the cause of death.

=== Terminology inconsistencies across jurisdictions ===
In some jurisdictions, the title of "Medical Examiner" is used by a non-physician, elected official involved in a medicolegal death investigation.  In others, the law requires the medical examiner to be a physician, pathologist, or forensic pathologist.

Similarly, the title "coroner" is applied to both physicians and non-physicians.  Historically, coroners were not all physicians (most often serving primarily as the town mortician).  However, in some jurisdictions, the topic of "Coroner" is exclusively used by physicians.

=== Canadian coroners ===
In Canada, there was a mix of coroner and medical examiner systems, depending on the province or territory. In Ontario, coroners are licensed physicians, usually but not exclusively [[family physician]]s. In Quebec, there is a mix of medical and non-medical coroners, whereas, in British Columbia, there is predominantly a non-physician coroner system. Alberta and Nova Scotia are examples of ME systems<ref>The Coroner System. USW. [http://www.usw.ca/program/content/3179.php http://www.usw.ca/program/content/3179.php] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091113061608/http://www.usw.ca/program/content/3179.php |date=2009-11-13 }}. Accessed on: 7 June 2007.</ref><ref>Coroners' law resource. King's College London. [http://www.kcl.ac.uk/depsta/law/research/coroners/canada.html http://www.kcl.ac.uk/depsta/law/research/coroners/canada.html] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090203193359/http://www.kcl.ac.uk/depsta/law/research/coroners/canada.html |date=2009-02-03 }}. Accessed on: 7 June 2007.</ref>

=== Coroners and medical examiners in the United States ===
In the United States, a coroner is typically an elected [[public official]] in a particular geographic jurisdiction who investigates and certifies deaths. The vast majority of coroners lack a [[Doctor of Medicine]] degree and the amount of medical training that they have received is highly variable, depending on their profession (e.g. law enforcement, judges, funeral directors, emergency medical technicians, nurses).

In contrast, a medical examiner is typically a [[physician]] who holds the degree of [[Doctor of Medicine]] (M.D.) or [[Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine]] (D.O.). Ideally, a medical examiner has completed both a pathology [[residency (medicine)|residency]] and a fellowship in forensic pathology. In some jurisdictions, a medical examiner must be both a doctor and a lawyer, with additional training in forensic pathology.