Forensic Pathology: Determining Cause and Manner of Death

The internal examination “(…), provides further documentation of the presence or absence of injury and/or disease” (Dolinak et al., 2005, p. 67). The analysis can identify characteristics of the wounds or injuries that could determinate the cause of manner of death and the study of the internal organs it helps to see how the external injuries connect to the internal injuries. Additionally, the examination of the organs and sample of body fluid are sent to a forensic toxicologist to determine if drug or poison could be the cause or contribute of death. Many times Forensic pathologist collaborate with other specialist who are training in toxicology, firearms/ballistics, trace evidence, serology (blood analysis), DNA technology, and odontology.

Forensic Pathology and Medical examination is useful in forensic investigations because “each death investigation differs from another in some fashion. Each death investigation contains some unique quality” (Dolinak et al., 2005, p. 1). The Forensic Pathologist determinate the identity of the victim, time of death, the manner and cause of death studying the medical history, evaluating the evidence of the crime scene including witness statements, performing an autopsy and

3). In other words is the immediate reason for the cessation of life, which could be a gunshot wound to the head, stab wound, coronary atherosclerosis or malignant tumor. The Mechanisms of death is “(…) the physiological derangement produced by the cause of death that result in death. “(DiMaio, 2001, p. 3) as hemorrhage, septicemia or cardiac arrhythmia. One mechanism of death can be produced by many causes of death as a cause of death can produce in several possible mechanisms of death. The two depend on each other and they need to be seems as two different matters to have a specific