NCJ Number
50746
Journal
Canadian Society of Forensic Science Volume: 11 Issue: 2 Dated: (JUNE 1978) Pages: 123-126
Date Published
1977
Length
4 pages
Annotation
THE STATE OF THE ART OF FORENSIC PATHOLOGY IN CANADA IS ASSESSED, WITH COMMENTS ON DEVELOPMENTS SINCE 1956 AND ON LIKELY FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS.
Abstract
FORENSIC PATHOLOGY IN CANADA HAS BEEN PRACTICED LARGELY AS A SIDELINE BY PATHOLOGISTS WHO ARE QUALIFIED AND EMPLOYED IN OTHER BRANCHES OF THE SPECALITY OF PATHOLOGY AND WHO OFTEN HAVE NO FORMAL TRAINING IN MEDICOLEGAL WORK. RESPONSIBILITY FOR AND INTEREST IN THE GROWTH OF FORENSIC PATHOLOGY AS A SPECIALIZED DISCIPLINE HAS BEEN DIVIDED. IN SMALL AREAS OF CANADA, THERE IS A GOOD, CENTRALIZED FORENSIC PATHOLOGY SERVICE STAFFED BY EXPERTS. THIS SERVICE, AS YET IN AN EMBRYONIC STAGE, SUFFERS FROM THE LIMITATIONS OF CENTRALIZED FINANCING FOR A SERVICE WITH NO OBVIOUS POLITICAL INFLUENCE, AND FROM PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH POLITICAL INTERFERENCE AND INFLUENCE. IN MOST OF CANADA, FORENSIC PATHOLOGY SERVICES ARE TENUOUSLY AND INTERMITTENTLY SUPERVISED BY A CENTRAL ORGANIZATION, STAFFED BY PART-TIME INVESTIGATORS (E.G., LOCAL SURGEONS) WHOSE KNOWLEDGE OF AND INTEREST IN FORENSIC PATHOLOGY MAY BE LIMITED. OTHER PROBLEMS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THE RELATIONSHIPS AMONG PATHOLOGISTS, CORONERS, LOCAL AND CENTRAL POLICE, CRIME LABORATORIES, AND THE LEGAL SYSTEM. A MAJOR DEFICIENCY IS THE LACK OF INTEREST OF ACADEMIC PATHOLOGY DEPARTMENTS IN FORENSIC PATHOLOGY. THE FUTURE EVOLUTION OF FORENSIC PATHOLOGY IN CANADA WILL DEPEND ON THE AMOUNT OF ATTENTION AND MONEY THAT CAN BE DEVOTED TO IT, WHICH IN TURN WILL DEPEND ON POLITICAL PRIORITIES. THERE SHOULD BE SOME EFFORT TO EDUCATE AND CULTIVATE THE PART-TIME PRACTITIONERS WHO OF NECESSITY PROBABLY WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPLY MUCH OF CANADA'S FORENSIC PATHOLOGY SERVICES. ONE POSSIBILITY IS FOR THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS OF CANADA TO RECOGNIZE THROUGH CERTIFICATION OF SPECIAL COMPETENCE OF PHYSICIANS QUALIFIED IN ANATOMICAL OR GENERAL PATHOLOGY. (LKM)