NCJ Number
57021
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 24 Issue: 2 Dated: (APRIL 1979) Pages: 275-281
Editor(s)
G R HENNIGAR
Date Published
1979
Length
7 pages
Annotation
IN 1977 QUESTIONNAIRES SENT TO THE 111 MEDICAL SCHOOLS IN THE UNITED STATES FOUND THAT ONLY 7 REQUIRED A COURSE IN FORENSIC PATHOLOGY, 17 HAD AN ELECTIVE COURSE, AND FEW OFFERED RESIDENCY TRAINING IN THE FIELD.
Abstract
OF THE 15,774 STUDENTS WHO GRADUATED FROM U.S. MEDICAL SCHOOLS IN 1977, ONLY 1,532 HAD TAKEN ANY COURSE IN FORENSIC PATHOLOGY. BETWEEN 1973 AND 1977, ONLY 44 FORENSIC PATHOLOGISTS WERE TRAINED IN RESIDENCY PROGRAMS, WHILE 178 HAD TAKEN SOME ELECTIVE TRAINING IN THE FIELD. YET, A SURVEY OF MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MEDICAL EXAMINERS (NAME) FOUND THAT 90 HELD FACULTY POSITIONS WHILE 25 OTHERS WERE WILLING TO TEACH. MOST MEDICAL SCHOOLS COVER FORENSIC PATHOLOGY BRIEFLY IN REGULAR PATHOLOGY COURSES; USUALLY THIS TREATMENT CONSISTS OF THE PRESENTATION OF A FEW 'INTERSTING' CASES WHICH ARE SO GROTESQUE THEY REPEL STUDENTS. THIS DOES LITTLE TO PREPARE THE FUTURE PATHOLOGIST FOR THE TYPE OF ACCIDENT AND CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION WORK THE COUNTY CORONER MAY HAVE. THE FACT IS THAT MOST AREAS OF THE COUNTRY HAVE TO RELY ON A HOSPITAL PATHOLOGIST FOR SUCH EXAMINATIONS. HOWEVER, IF THE HOSPITAL-BASED PATHOLOGIST HAS NOT HAD SOME FORENSIC TRAINING, SUSPICIOUS DEATHS MAY GO UNDETECTED AND VALUABLE EVIDENCE WILL BE UNCOLLECTED. LAW STUDENTS ALSO SHOULD HAVE THIS TRAINING TO ENABLE THEM TO WORK WITH EXPERT EVIDENCE. THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CLINICAL PATHOLOGY IS ATTEMPTING TO REMEDY THE SITUATION THROUGH CONTINUING EDUCATION WORKSHOPS. PRACTICING FORENSIC PATHOLOGISTS ARE URGED TO JOIN IN THIS EFFORT. (GLR)