Q: What is a pathologist?
A pathologist is a physician who studies a variety of natural diseases and works in a hospital, laboratory, morgue or private setting.

Q: What is a forensic pathologist?
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 violent deaths such as homicides, accidents and suicides. Other categories are suspicious, sudden and unexpected deaths.

Q: What is a medical examiner?
A medical examiner is a doctor who has a medical degree and has specialized education and experience in the field of pathology and forensic pathology.

Q: What is the difference between a medical examiner and a coroner?
Medical examiners and coroners provide a similar service to their communities. Coroners are part of an older system with origins that date back to England many centuries ago. They are usually elected lay individuals who contract with physicians to provide autopsies and medical expertise to support their investigations. In contrast, the medical examiner system is an American creation approximately a century old. Medical examiners are almost always appointed to their positions, and they are physicians with training in medicolegal death investigation.

Click here to check out some interesting statistics about the cases that come through Dr. G's office.