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2013, Volume 29, Number 3, Page(s) 201-209
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DOI: 10.5146/tjpath.2013.01187 |
The Approaches of Physicians Working in the Field of Pathology Regarding Forensic Pathology Practice and the Training Process |
Gökhan ERSOY1, Yavuz ÖZORAN2, Arzu AKÇAY3, Melek Özlem KOLUSAYIN4, Işıl PAKİŞ5, Halide Nur ÜRER6, Mete Korkut GÜLMEN7, Büge ÖZ8 |
1Department of Medical Sciences, İstanbul University, Institute of Forensic Medicine, İSTANBUL, TURKEY
2Department of Pathology, Karadeniz Technical University, Faculty of Medicine, TRABZON, TURKEY
3Morgue Department Pathology Laboratory, Council of Forensic Medicine, İSTANBUL, TURKEY
4Department of Forensic Medicine İstanbul University, Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine, İSTANBUL, TURKEY
5Pathology Laboratory, Yedikule Chest Diseases Hospital, İSTANBUL, TURKEY
6Department of Forensic Medicine, Acıbadem University, Faculty of Medicine, İSTANBUL, TURKEY
7Çukurova University, Faculty of Medicine, ADANA, TURKEY
8Department of Pathology, İstanbul University, Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine, İSTANBUL, TURKEY |
Keywords:
Forensic medicine, Pathology, Autopsy, Education |
Objective: Forensic autopsies are performed by the forensic medicine
department and the microscopic examination processes by pathology
specialists within the forensic medicine practice in Turkey. This
disconnection in the process raises problems in the training of both
branches. The aim of this study was to determine the awareness of
pathology staff on forensic medicine practices and responsibilities and
their opinion on the pathology training model in the forensic medicine
specialty and to discuss the matter within the framework of the present
situation and global applications.
Material and Method: A 15-item questionnaire form distributed
to the participant physicians during registration at the 21st National
Pathology Congress held in 2011 was evaluated.
Results: 94 participants responded. A negative opinion was expressed
by 72% about the interest in the general post-mortem process. The
view that pathology specialists should undergo a separate training to
perform autopsies was predominant and there was a general lack of
interest in all kinds of autopsy processes. The percentage who said they
knew the legal responsibility of a pathology specialist regarding forensic
autopsies correctly was 37%. The questions “what are the necessary
factors to contribute to the pathology training in forensic medicine”
and “if anything is required, which of them would take priority” were
respectively answered as “for me to be interested (46%)” and “a system
guaranteeing that training will always be given by pathology specialists
(67%)”. Despite the possibility of becoming a forensic medicine
specialist in two years, the mean answer score of the participants to the
phrase “I do not consider becoming a forensic medicine specialist” was
4.1 (out of 5).
Conclusion: A reluctance among the pathologists in our country was
seen regarding forensic medicine specialists being able to perform
post-mortem microscopic examination. However, despite their legal
responsibilities, their interest in forensic pathology practice was low.
There seems to be rational factor that would increase this interest in
the near future. Cooperation is necessary to enable forensic medicine
specialists to perform post-mortem pathology procedures. This
cooperation should be based on improving the training of pathology
research assistants.
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