Silent Witness

Question 1

What is pathology?

Answer 1

The science that classifies disease, confirms the aetiology and the pathogenesis

Question 2

What is the aetiology?

Answer 2

The cause

Question 3

What is the pathogenesis?

Answer 3

How the disease occured

Question 4

What is an autopsy?

Answer 4

The examination, involving full dissection of a body after death

Question 5

What is the difference between hospital and forensic autopsies?

Answer 5

Autopsies done in the hospital are done to find out what disease caused the individual to pass away whereas forensic autopsies are carried out to exclude/investigate injury which has legal complications

Question 6

When is an autopsy referred to the coroner/fiscal?

Answer 6

When there is suspicion of foul play/malpractice/medicolegal issues in a death or if there is a sudden or unexplained death

Question 7

What are the elements to find the cause of death?

Answer 7

Examining the scene: this can be problematic as evidence from the scene can be interpreted wrongly. Standardised procedure: external examination. Dissection: you look at everything because as much information as possible is wanted from this.

Question 8

How is pathology linked with applied medicine?

Answer 8

Pathology makes the diagnosis

Question 9

Histopathology

Answer 9

Histopathology is looking at tissue in order to make a differential diagnosis. The prognosis, prediction, and prevention can be concluded.