The Medicolegal Death Investigation (FORENSIC PATHOLOGY) system is responsible for conducting death investigations and certifying the cause and manner of unnatural and unexplained deaths.
A successful medicolegal death investigation requires evaluation of data obtained from three sources:
1. Circumstances leading up to and surrounding the death. The forensic pathologist obtains as much data as possible before examining the body. A post-mortem examination of a body is never conducted until the circumstances of the death are known. Data collection on the circumstances of a death may involve:
a. scene visits
b. interviews with witnesses, next of kin, and attending medical personnel.
c. review of past medical records or police report
2. Data obtained from the examination of the body
3. Data obtained from the performance of laboratory tests.
Integration of all data in the context of the case to opine on the cause of death.
This is according to information from the office of the State Forensic Pathologist, Ministry of home Affairs and Internal Security.
