Forensic Pathology Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Forensic Pathology - Research Paper Example and 6 million child abuse allegations in the United States (â€Å"National Child Abuse,† n.d.) These data prove that children are the common victims of abuse and maltreatment, which also lead to their early death. Considering that child abuse is one of the most rampant crimes today, medical and legal practitioners try to find scientific and legal procedures to solve child abuse cases. Pediatric forensic pathology, as a medico-legal investigation procedure, proves sufficient enough to solve child death due to abuses. Accordingly, this paper aims to study the historical development of pediatric forensic pathology and analyze the significant events and people that contribute to its development. This paper will also discuss the theories and methods in pediatric forensic pathology; additionally, with case report evidences, this paper will show and analyze the successes and failures of the application of forensic pathology methods. Medico-legal investigation in America was patterned after England’s Coroner System, which empowers the coroner (equivalent to a sheriff) to perform judicial and ministerial authority over a corpse (Fisher, 1993, pp. 6-12). As an English colony, the American justice and medical system were patterned after the English system; thus, the American and English medical and justice systems are very much alike. During the years 1950 and onwards, American forensic pathology had undergone several changes and innovations; these innovations had contributed to the growth and advancement of forensic sciences in the United States (Rudin & Inman, 2002). Two of the most significant events in the history of forensic pathology in America are the establishments of the American Academy of Forensic Science (AAFS) in Chicago and the printing of the Journal of Forensic Science (JFS) in 1950. These were followed in 1966 by the discovery of the immunoelectrophoretic technique used to identify bloodstains; this technique was developed by Brian J. Culliford and Brian