Information taken from the Royal College of Pathologists' website

Forensic pathology is probably the most high profile of all the pathological specialties, but is relatively small in terms of number of practitioners. It is the discipline of pathology concerned with the investigation of deaths where there are medico-legal implications, for example, suspected homicides, death in custody and other complex medico-legal cases.

Much of the day-to-day work of forensic pathology is performing autopsies, for example in a case of stabbing, shooting or head injury, which are common methods of homicide in the United Kingdom. These autopsies are usually carried out under the authority of the coroner in England and Wales, with police present. In England and Wales, forensic pathologists are accredited by the Home Office. In Scotland, which has a rather different medico-legal system requiring two pathologists at an autopsy, they operate under the Procurator Fiscal system.  Aside from performing autopsies, attendance at both Crown court and the coroner's court are frequent, necessitating explaining medical issues to juries as well as relatives.

For further information on training programmes, please contact the Training & Educational Standards Department on 020 7451 6741 or email education@rcpath.org

Current training places

• Cardiff , Wales (2)
• Liverpool, England (2)
• Leicester, England (3)
• Newcastle Upon Tyne, England (2)
• Glasgow , Scotland (1)
• Dundee, Scotland (1)
• Belfast, Northern Ireland (1)

Information about the future availability of posts at these locations may be obtainiend from the respective departments or the postgraduate Deaneries.