Maricopa County Forensic Science Center

Forensic Pathology

Maricopa County Forensic Science Center is a Forensic Pathology practice in Phoenix, AZ with healthcare providers who have special training and skill in traditional medicine, forensic sciences, DNA technology, forensic serology, toxicology, trace evidence, and wound ballistics. Forensic Pathologists at Maricopa County Forensic Science Center perform research on the circumstances leading up to a death, and examines cadavers to determine the deceased's identity, as well as the time, causes, and manner of death. Forensic Pathology is a pathology subspecialty that examines cadavers that have died unexpectedly or violently. Significant diseases and conditions treated at Forensic Pathology practices include death by both natural causes (disease) and unnatural causes (injury, suicide, or homicide). Medical tests, procedures and therapies provided by Forensic Pathology practices include reviewing law-enforcement information regarding a death, obtaining the deceased medical histories, collecting evidence through imaging tests and tissue samples during an autopsy, determining the manner and cause of death, preparing official autopsy reports, providing these reports to public and health and safety agencies, and testifying about these findings in court.

A forensic pathologist is expert in investigating and evaluating cases of sudden, unexpected, suspicious and violent death as well as other specific classes of death defined by law. The forensic pathologist serves the public as coroner or medical examiner, or by performing medicolegal autopsies for such officials.

Anatomic Pathology

Maricopa County Forensic Science Center is an Anatomic Pathology practice in Phoenix, AZ with healthcare providers who have special training and skill in diagnosing diseases by analyzing tissue samples. Anatomic Pathologists at Maricopa County Forensic Science Center perform laboratory tests to determine the nature and severity of illness. Anatomic Pathology is the examination of cells, tissues, and organs for signs of disease. Significant diseases and conditions treated at Anatomic Pathology practices include skin, breast, and colon cancer. Medical tests, procedures and therapies provided by Anatomic Pathology practices include electron microscopy, fine needle aspiration, surgical biopsy, and autopsy.

A pathologist deals with the causes and nature of disease and contributes to diagnosis, prognosis and treatment through knowledge gained by the laboratory application of the biologic, chemical and physical sciences. A pathologist uses information gathered from the microscopic examination of tissue specimens, cells and body fluids, and from clinical laboratory tests on body fluids and secretions for the diagnosis, exclusion and monitoring of disease.