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Forensic Pathology

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Essentials of Anatomic Pathology

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Abstract

Forensic pathology is a branch of medicine that deals with the determination of the cause and manner of death in cases in which death occurred under suspicious or unknown circumstances. Identification of the decedent and interpretation of postmortem changes are duties of the forensic pathologist. Sudden death from natural disease frequently involves vascular disease, obstructive or reactive lung disease, diabetes and alcoholism. Sudden unexpected infant death requires careful investigation. Physical injuries include blunt force trauma, sharp force injury, firearm injuries, asphyxias, thermal injuries, and electrical injury. Toxicology studies confirm death from intoxications by volatiles, cocaine, opiates, and psychiatric drugs. Occupational lung disease and industrial poisons cause progressive symptoms resulting in death.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cuyahoga County, OH, USA

    Frank P. Miller III MD

  2. Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA

    Frank P. Miller III MD

  3. Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences, Dallas, TX, USA

    Jeffrey J. Barnard MD

Authors
  1. Frank P. Miller III MD
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  2. Jeffrey J. Barnard MD
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Medicine, Dept. Pathology, Indiana University, N. University Blvd. 550, Indianapolis, 46202, Indiana, USA

    Liang Cheng

  2. Bostwick Laboratories, N. Parham Rd. 2807, Richmond, 23294, Virgin Islands, USA

    David G. Bostwick

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Miller, F.P., Barnard, J.J. (2011). Forensic Pathology. In: Cheng, L., Bostwick, D. (eds) Essentials of Anatomic Pathology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-6043-6_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-6043-6_7

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