FRSC-160 Introduction to Forensic Pathology and Morgue

Credits 3 / 3 Contact Hours
Pre-requisite: Placement into ACRD-090, ACRD-091 or ACRD-092, completion of ELAP-110 with a minimum grade of 2.0, or successful completion of ACRD-080; BIOL-151 with a minimum grade of 2.5 and ENGL-101 or ENGL-103 with a minimum grade of 2.0.
This course will give an overview of the discipline of Forensic Pathology the function of the Medical Examiner Office and the layout of the morgue in both the hospital setting and a medical examiners office. It will cover the history of these disciplines discuss their relationships and discuss the physical structure of the morgue and the equipment used to perform the autopsy. This course will review the role of the autopsy assistant and medical examiner investigator in death investigations.

Course Outcomes
1. Describe the field of forensic pathology and the role of forensic pathology in death investigations 2. Explain the historical origins of the field and process of an autopsy 3. Explain the differences between hospital and forensic autopsy and evaluate the conditions under which an autopsy is warranted 4. Describe the layout of the morgue and equipment used during an autopsy 5. Compare the medical examiner and coroner systems and explain the role of the medical examiner in death investigations 6. Explain cause and manner of death and outline the processes by which determinations are made 7. Explain the duty of an autopsy assistant before, during, and after an autopsy 8. Explain the role of the medical examiner investigator in death investigations