A forensic pathologist (which is known to most people as a medical examiner), is heavily involved in the criminal justice system and medical system. The medical examiner's main job is to conduct an autopsy on the victim of any unnatural form of death. Their primary task in potential criminal cases is to find the cause of death and confirm if it was homicidal, suicidal, or an accident. The cause of death is what police investigators use as their lead to track down potential suspects. Some work in local parts of government, hospitals, medicals schools, and in private practice which would contract their service to other government agencies. They perform autopsies, write out autopsy reports, look over victim's medical records, and interview the victim's next of kin. They also have to be trained in the legal system and to be able to testify in court cases involving death or injury (“Forensic Pathology,” 2009).
Most forensic pathologist start as a resident, then after residency they awarded the title medical examiner. They can continue working to deputy chief medical examiner and the top position chief medical examiner. It takes between 13 to 15 years of education to become a forensic pathologist. This includes your bachelor degree and medical course requirements, followed by four years of medical school, and four years practicing forensic pathology as a resident. Once all of this is completed, you are required to accomplish a one year fellowship. The last and final step to be a certified forensic pathologist is to pass The American Board of Pathology. This is a very difficult exam with failure rates as high as 40 percent in anatomic pathology and 60 percent in clinical pathology (“Forensic Pathology”, 2009).
Forensic pathologist are also involved in firearm examination, trace evidence, toxicology, DNA technology, and forensic serology to their investigate the victim's