April 1, 2003
A: Correct answers arrived from Alexis K. in VA, Anne M. in CA, Ashley S. in AR, Ashley S. in TN, Ayushi R. in TX, Carrah F. in CO, Cherina C. in CA, Chi H. in MO, Erika G. in CA, Erin R. in KY, Ivy H. in WA, Jenny N. in AR, Katie B. in CA, Kathryn T. in VA, Kelly B. in PA, Kelly V. in NJ, Kunjal P. in NY LaToshia N. in MO, Laura M. in CO, Lisa R. in PA, Maggie K. in CT, Mia M. in CA, Sanna R. in VA, Sarah D. in IL,  Sharmila P. in WA.

Here is one of the many great definitions we received:
Forensic pathology is a specialized area of pathology.
The forensic pathologist performs autopsies to
determine the cause and manner of death in situations
falling under the jurisdiction of the local medical
examiner or coroner. These situations include,
however, are not limited to violent deaths such as
homicides, accidents, and suicides. Other categories
are suspicious deaths, sudden and expected deaths,
deaths in children and infants, prisoners, persons
under the care of an institution, situations where
illicit drugs or alcohol may have contributed to the
death, deaths occurring during or in close proximity
to a surgical procedure, deaths in individuals not
under the care of a physician or when the private
physician is unable or unwilling to certify the death
certificate, and deaths when there is suspicion of a
public health threat. Many persons fail to realize
that approximately half of the deaths examined by the
forensic pathologist are natural deaths occurring in
the absence of injury. The forensic pathologist is
also an expert witness in the court of law, testifying
in a variety of civil and criminal cases involving
death or injury.