Environmental Diseases

Question 1

The real path material from this lecture is in the Path flash cards for Environmental Diseases. These cards cover the other non-path material from the lecture for Faculty Questions

Answer 1

With Love,

Don

Question 2

What is a forensic pathologist?

Answer 2

A physician that specializes in the investigation of deaths that are sudden, unexpected, or appear unnatural in any way

Question 3

What is a medical examiner?

Answer 3

• Almost always a physician
• Likely to be a forensic pathologist
• Ususually work independently of legal/justice system, so “should” be unbiased

Question 4

Cause of death vs. mechanism of death

Answer 4

• CAUSE of death
– Etiologically specific
– Can stand alone on a death certificate

• MECHANISM of death
– Has a broad differential
– Cannot stand alone on a death certificate
- Like respiratory arrest or cardiac arrest or exsanguinating hemorrhage

Question 5

Types of Manners of death

Answer 5

Natural
Accident
Suicide
Homicide
Undetermined