Forensic pathologist

Forensic pathologists perform autopsies to find out the cause of death. They work on a wide range of cases, using their findings to advise the police and coroner. They might also appear in court as expert witnesses. Sometimes, forensic pathologists advise on injuries experienced by living victims. They are medical doctors who have undergone specialist training.

Work activities

Forensic pathologists work on a wide range of cases, including sudden death, complex hospital deaths, accidents, suicides, deaths in custody and suspicious cases including suspected homicide. The police sometimes ask forensic pathologists to go to a crime scene. This could help the forensic pathologist gather information that might be helpful at the time of autopsy. The forensic pathologist might supervise the gathering of samples such as fingernail scrapings and trace fibres, and the removal of clothes. However, evidence gathering at the scene is usually the work of a crimes scene investigator (CSI).

Forensic pathologists carry out autopsies back at the mortuary to find out how the person came to die. First, they obtain from the police a briefing of the circumstances surrounding the death. Then, they carefully examine any extra information such as photos from the crime scene and the dead person’s medical records. They may visit the crime scene.

Once they have finished the autopsy, the forensic pathologist will talk to the senior investigating officer about their findings and might give a cause of death. They will then let the coroner know their findings. Forensic pathologists give their opinion on injuries to help the coroner give a formal verdict on the manner of the death. They also tell the police if they think the case may be a homicide.

Forensic pathologists might then have to give evidence at a coroner’s or crown court. They have to work alongside many other professionals, including forensic scientists, toxicologists, police officers, biochemists, microbiologists, pharmacologists and barristers. They also have to explain their findings to jurors in court.

Personal qualities and skills

To be a forensic pathologist, you’ll need:

An interest and ability in science and anatomy.
Practical hand skills to perform autopsies.
An enquiring mind.
Attention to detail.
The ability to work under pressure.
Record-keeping and report-writing skills.
Communication and teamwork skills – forensic pathologists work alongside people such as coroners, police and crime scene investigators, forensic scientists and barristers.
Confidence to speak in front of people when giving evidence.
Flexibility, and willingness to travel often. Forensic pathologists might have to go to a crime scene at any time of the day or night. They might have to give evidence at a number of courts in the local area.

Forensic pathologists deal with cases that some people find upsetting – you must have emotional strength to do this job. A driving licence is useful as you may need to travel to crime scenes and courts.

Pay and opportunities

Earnings for forensic pathologists vary depending on whether they are employed or self-employed, or, sometimes, both. However, the National Careers Service states that the typical salary for pathologists is in the range of £35,000 to £69,000.

Forensic pathologists’ working hours vary depending on their type of employment. If they work within a department, they’ll have regular office hours when they are not on-call. However, on-call involves irregular hours, which might include weekends and public holidays. They can expect to work 38-40 hours per week.

Employers are group practices of (at least three) registered consultant forensic pathologists. They serve local police forces and are based in Home Office registered practices in regional centres throughout England and Wales.

Where are vacancies advertised?

Vacancies are advertised in specialist medical journals including the British Medical Journal.

Entry routes and training

Forensic pathologists are medical doctors who have taken further, specialist training. To become a doctor, you must usually take a five-year degree course in medicine. After graduating, you will need to complete a further two years of general medical training, followed by up to six years of training in pathology.

For information and guidance on how communicable diseases could affect training as a doctor, please contact the British Medical Association (BMA).

Forensic pathologists don’t normally specialise. However, they might find that because of their location they develop more experience in certain aspects of the job, such as deaths caused by gunshots or explosions. There are opportunities to be involved in research, audit and journal publications.

Rehabilitation of Offenders Act: This career is an exception to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. This means that you must supply information to an employer about any spent or unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings, if they ask you to. This is different from other careers, where you only have to reveal information on unspent convictions if you are asked to.

Qualifications

For entry to a degree course in medicine, the usual requirement is three A-levels at high grades. Chemistry is usually essential, with at least one other science subject or maths. Of these, many universities ask for biology. Competition for entry to medicine degrees is very strong, so you are likely to need high grades in your A-levels. Most university medical schools ask for at least AAA and some for combinations such as A*AA. You will also need high grades in five GCSEs, including English, maths and science subjects.

You will usually need to sit an admission test, as well as applying through UCAS. Examples are:

UK Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT) is used in the selection procedure for most medical schools. It is not a test of knowledge but is instead designed to make sure you have the appropriate mental abilities, attitudes and professional behaviour to be a doctor. You should ideally take the test before you apply to the school through UCAS. Please see the UKCAT website for more information.
BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT). You will need to take this if you apply for certain universities in the UK and abroad.
Graduate Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT UK) if you’re applying for certain four-year graduate-entry medicine courses. For more information, please see the GAMSAT website.

Adult opportunities

Age limits: It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

If you don’t have the usual qualifications needed for a degree in medicine, you may be able to enter the course through:

An Access to Medicine course.
A pre-medical or foundation year, if you don’t have science A-levels.
Six-year widening access courses encourage more people to study medicine. These are available at a small number of universities. Please contact the British Medical Association for more information.

You can train as a forensic pathologist (once qualified as a doctor) on a part-time basis. This can be through the NHS Less Than Full-time Training Programme, through which students cover 50-80% of the normal full-time weekly programme.

Medical students may apply for student loans to cover maintenance and tuition fees. However, the final years of their study may be covered by the NHS Bursary Scheme – see Gov.uk for details.

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