Historical Development of Forensic Pathology in the United States.

Choo, Tae M; Choi, Young Shik

doi:2012.36.1.15

Korean J Leg Med > Volume 36(1); 2012 > Article

Original article

Korean Journal of Legal Medicine 2012;36(1):15-21.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.7580/KoreanJLegMed.2012.36.1.15 Published online May 31, 2012.

Historical Development of Forensic Pathology in the United States.

Tae M Choo, Young Shik Choi

¹Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice School of Social Sciences, Gainesville State College, GA, USA. tchoo@gsc.edu
²Division of Forensic Medicine, National Forensic Service, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

While forensic pathology has become a vital tool in solving crime over recent years, it remains a vague term to many criminal justice practitioners. Chronicling the development of autopsy and forensic pathology in the United States will introduce this modern field. An examination of forensic pathology will also explain how its role has evolved to accommodate legal and civil issues. The utility of forensic pathology extends well beyond the medical realm by affecting the core of the medicolegal investigative system in the United States.

Key Words: forensic pathology, autopsy, coroner, medical examiner