Credibility and Competence in Forensic Pathology

     A forensic pathologist is most critical in cases of sudden, unexplained, or violent death where a layperson, or even a physician without specialized training in forensic pathology would be able to determine, with a high degree of certainty, if the manner of death was natural, accidental, suicidal, or homicidal. The police might suspect homicide and even have a suspect, but if the forensic pathologist finds that the death was, say, accidental, there will be no criminal investigation. If the forensic pathologist has credibility, it's less likely that people will question his or her call. If the forensic pathologist, for any reason, lacks credibility, the case will remain up in the air. The police and members of the deceased person's family may think that someone has gotten away with murder. The suspected murderer, innocent or not, may live under a cloud of suspicion. No one will think that justice has been done. Credibility and competence are the two critical qualities for an effective forensic pathologist.

      To be credible, a forensic pathologist has to be professionally qualified, experienced, and scientifically independent. Once a forensic pathologist has been caught taking shortcuts, making mistakes, or giving in to political pressure, that forensic scientist has lost credibility. This can be especially harmful in close-call, high-profile or politically charged cases. One would think that forensic pathologists whose reputations have been seriously damaged would be forced out of the field because no one would want to employ their services. But in the United States, discredited forensic pathologists usually remain on the job tainting the cases in which they are involved.