Be a forensic pathologist

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Be a forensic pathologist

Wednesday, 20 September 2017 | Dr Ravi Gaur

Be a forensic pathologist

Wednesday, 20 September 2017 | Dr Ravi Gaur

For a person with a keen eye on detailing, a curious mind and ability to analyse critically, a career as a forensic pathologist is ideal as it has several opportunities in different sectors that are well-paying, says Dr Ravi Gaur

Out-of-the-box thinking doesn’t require people to rewire their brains or take courses in creativity, although those courses sound like fun. To think outside the box, you only need to ask: Is there another way to think about thisIJ Now a day, everyone wants something new and different, out of the mainstream. likewise, it is for a career, students and professionals want exposure to innovative future prospects. The conventional pathologists conduct various tests related to investigate and identify the actual cause of a disease. Many new pathologists now like to experiment with out-of-the-box options in this field. Forensic pathology is a demanding, upcoming and fairly well-paid sub-field of pathology.

The scientific study of crime and its regression is the biggest and most important problem before us at present. The field of forensic pathology deals in determining the cause of the death and injury. It’s a highly competitive field and demands thorough precision and strong knowledge.

All criminal or civil law cases demand detail investigations to find out the truth to take the case forward without any bias. This field is a crucial domain in today’s modern world. The authenticity of the evidence and analysis of the clues collected from the crime scene is the fundamental basis of the field. The criminal evidences may include hair, blood, saliva, tissue, bones, fingerprints, footprints, other impressions which are critically analysed by the forensic pathologist.

A forensic pathologist is a licensed physician with the qualities of a doctor and a detective that analyses critical evidences to find out various aspects of a criminal.

ROlE & RESPONSIBIlITIES

Investigating the cause of sudden, unexplained deaths
Performing autopsies or post-mortems
Monitor diseases & perform a test on body fluids including blood, urine, tissues etc.
Identifies the body and detect the exact time & cause of the death
Determines instrument used for crime and categorizes cases into natural deaths etc.
logging & documentation of the facts right from the pronouncement of death, identification, manner of death, time of death and collection of physical samples etc.

ElIGIBIlITY

The field of forensic pathology requires a lot of patience, determination, and the ability to handle a lot of pressure. Students who are willing to put in all the hard work can make a great career out of this field. Medical students are at greater advantage if they want to opt for forensic pathology, however, students pursuing BCA or BSc can further do post-graduation in the same field. MBBS qualified doctors can also specialize in forensic science. law students can also go for a diploma in forensic science and can pursue a career in the department of Research & Analysis, CBI, Intelligence Bureau and police department. The candidate is required to have:

Prerequisite college course (2-4 years)
Medical Degree (4 years)
Pathology residency (3-4 years)
Forensic pathology fellowship (1-2 years)
The common concept that the students of forensic pathology will have to explore are:
Cybercrime, Fingerprint analysis, Digital analysis, Criminal procedure, Microscopy, Social relations, Blood stain pattern analysis etc. The course structure generally include
Homicide investigation
Forensic photography
Forensic firearms identification
Forensic anthropology
Biological evidence analysis
Evidence based research & methodology
Crime scene investigation

JOB PROSPECTS

Considering the dynamism of the field, the job prospects of forensic pathologists are immense. There is a high demand of forensic pathologists in the Government sector. Apart from this, there are immense job prospects in some out-of-the-box field like medicine, engineering, language, geology, fingerprinting, insect study etc. Apart from these, there are different roles like Forensic Anthropologist, Forensic Psychologists, Clinical Forensic Medical Experts, Forensic Serology Expert, Forensic Chemist, Forensic linguist, Toxicologist that one can explore.

The field of forensic pathology is dynamic and requires skills like attention to detail, methodical approach, interpretative skills, team work and effective communication etc. With a lot of out-of-the-box career options, forensic pathology is an upcoming field that gives you international exposure and is well-paying as well.

WHERE TO STUDY