Forensic Pathology Rotation

Residents spend one month of their second AP year at the San Francisco Medical Examiners Office, which handles over 1,400 forensic autopsies per year. Forensic toxicology, laboratory, radiology, anthropology and odontology are performed on site. The resident will assist one or more of the ME staff in the investigation of crime scenes and the performance of forensic autopsies. The resident accompanies the ME staff to court for cases that come to trial during the rotation.

During a one-month rotation, each resident will typically see four to eight homicides, two to three pediatric autopsies, 75 to 100 natural deaths, 20 to 25 accidental deaths, and 10 to 12 suicides. Each case has its unique features and each has an investigative history. The resident follows assigned cases from intake to final report.