Forensic Pathology

Department of Pathology

  • Course Information

    Course Number: RPAT662

    Prerequisites: Completion of Phase 1

    Length of Time: 2 or 4 weeks

    Phase Availability: Phase 2 and Phase 3

    Credit Type: Open

    Call: No

  • Contact Information

    Program Director: Mark Peters, MD

    Coordinator/Scheduling: Allison King (aking75@uic.edu)

    Location: Winnebago County Coroner’s Office (403 Elm St, Rockford, IL 61101)

Learning Objectives:

The student will:

  1. Become familiar with the death investigation activities of the coroner’s office.
  2. Learn what constitutes a “coroner’s case”.
  3. Assist in the performance of medical legal autopsies and understand the importance of special procedures that are not part of the usual hospital autopsy.
  4. Participate in the interpretation of toxicological data.
  5. Observe courtroom procedure regarding medical testimony.

Learning Activities:

  1. Assist with documentation of external and internal injuries.
  2. Dissect internal organs to identify disease and injuries.
  3. Teach other students how to dissect organs.
  4. Use x-ray equipment to identify and localize bullets and document bone injuries.
  5. Use dissection to recover embedded bullets.
  6. Talk to coroners and law enforcement about important scene information and review scene photographs.
  7. Review medical records and write summaries to help everyone understand the medical conditions and complications that lead to death.
  8. Attend court to observe how physicians interact with the legal system.

Method of Assessment: Faculty evaluation of performance

Required Reading: Reading assignments relevant to current cases or current issues in forensic pathology can be made from any suitable textbook of forensic pathology or medical journals found in the College of Medicine library.

Additional Resources: None

Miscellaneous Information: None