Pediatric Forensic Pathology

Pediatrics is the area of medicine that deals with the health and diseases specific to children and adolescents.

Pediatric Pathology is the interpretation of tissues and body fluids to diagnose the presence or absence of disease in children and adolescents.

Forensic Pathology is a subspecialty of pathology focused on providing an opinion regarding the cause, mechanism, and manner of disease, injury, or death. The forensic pathologist is specially trained to help coordinate a comprehensive medicolegal death investigation and interpret physical findings and biological evidence.

What is a Case Review and what is the Role of the Pediatric Forensic Pathologist?

The process of forensic review in the death of a child requires analysis of evidence to determine cause and manner of death. The analysis demands review of medical records and autopsy materials, the circumstances of the child's life and medical conditions, as well as investigation pertaining to the circumstances and activities of the child in the days and hours before presentation to medical attention.

The role of the Pediatric Forensic Pathologist is to provide forensic medical expertise in cooperation with law enforcement, legal and social service systems in the investigation of death or injury to children and adolescents.