Korean J Leg Med.  2012 May;36(1):15-21. 10.7580/KoreanJLegMed.2012.36.1.15.

Historical Development of Forensic Pathology in the United States

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice School of Social Sciences, Gainesville State College, GA, USA. tchoo@gsc.edu
  • 2Division of Forensic Medicine, National Forensic Service, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

While forensic pathology has become a vital tool in solving crime over recent years, it remains a vague term to many criminal justice practitioners. Chronicling the development of autopsy and forensic pathology in the United States will introduce this modern field. An examination of forensic pathology will also explain how its role has evolved to accommodate legal and civil issues. The utility of forensic pathology extends well beyond the medical realm by affecting the core of the medicolegal investigative system in the United States.

Keyword

forensic pathology; autopsy; coroner; medical examiner

MeSH Terms

Autopsy
Coroners and Medical Examiners
Crime
Criminal Law
Forensic Pathology
Humans
United States

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