Determining the Cause of Death in an Autopsy

A forensic pathologist’s main mission during an autopsy is determining the cause of death of the individual. From a legal perspective, law enforcers need to be able to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the cause of death was due to reasons or circumstances deemed unnatural.
Any sudden or unexpected death of an individual in today's times is looked at through an autopsy in order to completely rule out foul play and simply to gain a better understanding of the exact cause of death.

As an expert forensic pathologist with a total of over 30+ years of extensive educational and professional experience, Dr. Howard Oliver holds in depth knowledge in conducting a proper autopsy and determining the cause of an individual's death. Below, Dr. Howard Oliver discusses the different steps and processes a forensic pathologist must go through in order to determine the cause of death of an individual.

Aspects to contemplate on

To determine the actual cause of death, several aspects need to be taken into account by the pathologist. First of all it need to be ascertained whether the deceased was found at a place that he or she should not have normally been. Did the person have any visible injury or was he or she in any condition of undress? If indeed there were injuries, what could have caused those injuries? Could it have been a weapon? If so what kind of weapon?

These type of questions are very pertinent and answers need to be found quickly and satisfactorily. In some cases of death an inquest is essential to find out how an individual died- whether natural, accidental or by misadventure- and a pathologist’s expert opinion is sought to prove the actual cause of death beyond an iota of doubt.

Difficult chores

However, even the pathologist may find it extremely difficult to prove how exactly it occurred, in the absence of visible signs or a case of ill health of the deceased. He would have to rely on deeper examination and indeed his diagnostic instincts.  

When death occurs suddenly and without warning, statements of close relatives are essential. Also, medical records, and other sundry reports are required to be considered. All these would help the pathologist to create a detailed sketch of the deceased person’s life and lifestyle. Especially so, if the deceased was in some kind of duress that could have led to possible cardiac arrest.

In spite of all this, a forensic pathologist can arrive at a concrete conclusion regarding the cause of death only subsequent to a thorough autopsy. This is because an autopsy can provide substantial proof of what caused death and how exactly it could have happened. If it was a case of murder, the weapon used could be determined. For example, if the victim was stabbed with a sharp weapon the type of weapon as well as the characteristics of the attacker- if he was well built or not, whether he was right handed or a southpaw- could be determined through profiling.  

Similarly, it would be easy to guess if the victim had tried to defend himself or was simply overwhelmed by the attacker. All this information would eventually help in recreating the sequence of events as had happened.   

Concrete conclusion

So too if death occurred due to natural causes or even accident, homicide or suicide. An autopsy would remove all doubts, as the pathologist would be able to arrive at a definitive conclusion. Along with the cause of death, an autopsy would even help to estimate the approximate time of death.

Determining the cause and time of death would go a long way in helping with a criminal inquiry or investigation. It would definitively provide valuable evidences of events that led to the death of the victim.

To learn more about Forensic Pathology and determining the cause of death in an autopsy, check out the TV Appearances Dr. Howard Oliver has made throughout his career, dealing with major events and well known individuals.

The Basics of Autopsies

Autopsies have existed in some form or another for centuries. One of the first records of it being used for surgical purposes is found in the life of Galen (a disciple of Hippocrates). For a while, autopsies were associated with ancient brutality, but as religion and science converged, the practice gradually became an accepted procedure. It is now considered a legitimate means of medical examination by experts from a variety of fields.

With over 30 years of experience in Forensic Pathology, Dr. Howard Oliver has a strong knowledge of autopsies and how and why they are performed. Below, Dr. Howard Oliver describes the basics of autopsies and how they are used in his profession.

Why are they done?

Autopsies are medical examinations that are conducted in order to provide details about a death. Even if the cause of death seems obvious, the deceased could have had a condition nobody knew about while they were alive. Thus, autopsies shed significant light on the contributing factors of a person's demise; they offer information that helps determine what a person's health or state of mind might have been at the time of death.

How long do they last?

Provided there are no objections put forward, the autopsy is conducted as soon as possible. This is so that the family can plan the funeral and the person's body can be returned to them without unnecessary and painful delays. Additional tests by specialists take up to 10 weeks or, in some cases, even longer. The autopsy report cannot be completed until that process is finished.

Who is authorized to do an autopsy?

Autopsies are performed by doctors who have expertise in the examination of body tissues and fluids. Unless required by law (sudden death with suspicion of foul play, for example), no doctor can perform an autopsy without the permission of the deceased's family. A forensic pathologist is the primary doctor authorized to perform an autopsy.

Types of autopsies

Autopsies can be conducted for a variety of reasons, but there are generally three classifications:

Ø  Forensic: Typically entrusted to police surgeons, these autopsies are performed in cases of sudden, violent, or suspicious deaths that occur without medical assistance or during medical procedures (i.e., dying during surgery).

Ø  Clinical/Pathological: These autopsies are done to diagnose diseases for research purposes. They help explain the pathological processes that may have contributed to the person's death. Clinical autopsies are sometimes done to measure the quality of care in hospitals as well. They are done by a pathologist.

Ø  Anatomical/Academic: These are autopsies performed by anatomy students for practice (i.e., medical students). This is usually possible when a person has given permission for this prior to their death.

A means of closure

Although they can initially appear to be disrespectful to the dignity of the human body, it is important to remember that autopsies are not just medically useful; they can help people come to means with the death of someone they care about by providing them with clear reasons and explanations for why that person died. While autopsies are a difficult subject to broach with family members who have just lost a loved one, in the long run, the procedure is capable of providing peace and a significant amount of closure.

For more information about autopsies and the work of a forensic pathologist, connect with Dr. Howard Oliver on Social Career Builder: http://socialcareerbuilder.com/dr-howard-oliver/.

How to Become a Forensic Pathologist: Training and Education

How to Become a Forensic Pathologist: Training and Education Guide

It is likely you have seen forensic pathologists at work in crime shows on television or in various detective films. The job of a forensic pathologist is an interesting and exciting one, however most people do not know exactly what the job entails. Dr. Howard Oliver is a renowned forensic pathologist with over 30 years of experience in the field. He knows the ins and outs of the training, education, and other experiences required to succeed in this field of work. Are you considering a career in forensic pathology? If yes, stop for a moment and go through this article. This article will explain the right manners, different ways, and proper mechanisms to set out on career as a forensic pathologist. 

Who Are Forensic Pathologists?

A forensic pathologist is a trained physician determined to find out the exact cause of a death by examining a body. The forensic pathologist will conduct various tests on a person who has died suddenly or unexpectedly. Thus, he or she helps detectives and other investigating officers to identify the real suspect or suspects of a criminal case. Specialized persons can identify the cause of a wound, suicide, homicide, accidental, natural or unknown death.

Education Guide

As mentioned above, a forensic pathologist is a trained physician. Therefore, one of the most important qualifications for becoming a forensic pathologist is to obtain a medical degree. Interested persons must hold a significant postgraduate degree in medical science. He or she must earn a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) or Doctor of Osteopathy (D.O.) degree from a registered medical school. Additionally, upon completing a medical degree, one must complete training in a residency pathology program as well as a fellowship in forensic pathology.

Check out the training and education completed by Dr. Howard Oliver on his website: 

http://drhowardoliver.com/education

Eligibility at a Glance
Educational Qualification: 

• Pathology residency (3-4 years)
• Prerequisite College courses (2-4 years)
• Forensic pathology fellowship (1-2 years)
• Medical school (4 years)

Licensure & Certification: Certification and licensure is required from the state medical board (The board certificate must be renewed after every 10 years).

Required Training to Become Successful in This Profession

Individuals interested in this profession must have deep knowledge in autopsy. He or she must know how to do a post-mortem examination to uncover important evidence that will explain the cause of death of an individual.

He or she must have a strong sense of how to evaluate criminal evidence and wounds of a corpse.

The physician must have the ability to conduct various medical tests and analyze their findings in an official report.

The individual should undergo various training methods to gain sound knowledge in Toxicology, Trace evidence, DNA technology, Serology (blood analysis), and Firearms/ballistics. He or she can attend workshops and seminars related to the aforementioned topics.

Required skills

To hold a bright and successful future in this career, a forensic pathologist must be capable of working as a coroner or a medical examiner. He or she should be eligible to supervise a pathological and forensic lab. The right decision-making power is a precondition for becoming successful in this profession. 

An expert in forensic pathology often plays a key role in determining that facts of a criminal case. An expert in forensic pathology can expect $120,000 to $200,000 as his or her annual salary. 

For more information about forensic pathology and the career of Dr. Howard Oliver, connect with him on social media:

Dr. Howard Oliver Linkedin

Dr. Howard Oliver Expertfile

Dr. Howard Oliver Crunchbase

Dr. Howard Oliver Social Career Builder