Forensic Pathology: Principles and Practice

David Dolinak · Evan Matshes · Emma O. Lew

Apr 2005 · Elsevier

About this eBook

Forensic Pathology is a comprehensive reference that uses a case-oriented format to address, explain and guide the reader through the varied topics encountered by forensic pathologists. Developed in response to a severe void in the literature, the book addresses topics ranging from medicolegal investigation of death to death scene investigation, forensic autopsy, and artifacts of resuscitation as well as complications of medical therapy, forensic osteology, forensic odontology, forensic photography, and death certification. The book includes various types of cases, including sudden natural death, asphyxia, motor vehicle collisions, death in custody, child abuse and elder abuse, acute psychiatric and emotional deaths, and pregnancy. It contains sample descriptions of pathological lesions which serve to aid pathologists in reporting their findings to law enforcement agencies, attorneys, and others involved in investigations of sudden death. The concepts outlined in the text are beautifully illustrated by large, colorful photographs. There are also "Do and Don’t" sections at the end of each chapter that provide guidance for handling the types of cases examined. This work will benefit not only experienced forensic pathologists, but also hospital pathologists who occasionally performs medicolegal autopsies; doctors in training; medical examiners; law enforcement personnel; crime scene investigators; attorneys; and fellows and students of the medical sciences.

• Large, colorful photographs which beautifully illustrate the concepts outlined in the text.
• Sample descriptions of pathological lesions which serve to aid pathologists in reporting their findings to law enforcement agencies, attorneys, and others involved in investigations of sudden death.
• 'Do and Don't' sections at the end of each chapter which provide guidance for handling the types of cases examined within preceding sections.

Ratings and reviews

Evan Matshes describes himself as Assistant Chief Medical Examiner in the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Calgary Alberta, Canada (a branch of Alberta Justice). Other than his training in Dallas, TX, this is his only experience working as (1) a forensic pathologist or (2) in any Medical Examiner's Office. He was a Medical Examiner for 12 months: August 2010 to September 2011. Since then, three of his cases have been overturned. And as of April 2012, all his other cases remain under review by Alberta Justice. His current employment is as a hospital pathologist for Alberta Health, NOT as a Medical Examiner. The College of Physicians and Surgeons and Alberta Health are now investigating complaints that he has sold patient information from the hospital where he works.

Dr. Matshes is indeed under review however, one must consider where this problem originated. It was a review by an insurance company. Insurance companies are profit driven and will not stop at besmirching a practitioner's character and villifying people unfairly to prevent a significant payout. Besides this is truly not a forum for such discussion. Apart from the practice of pathology being a tough gig for the author, the book is accurate, informative and well laid out. What more do you want?

Evan Matshes is presently under investigation for shoddy forensic work. The Canadian Government is in the process of jerking his medical licensure and his U.S. colleagues are not buying this unscientific rubbish.

About the author

David Dolinak is Chief Medical Examiner for Austin, TX. He has published and lectured extensively in the neurosciences and forensic pathology. In conjunction with Evan Matshes he has produced the very well received text “Medicolegal Neuropathology: A Color Atlas.

Evan Matshes is the Assistant Chief Medical Examiner for the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He has published and lectured extensively in human anatomy and osteology, the neurosciences, and forensic pathology. In addition to his aforementioned textbook publishing, he was also a co-author on “An Atlas of Human Osteology, released in 2000 in Canada.