Forensic Medicine

FORENSIC MEDICINE DEGREE

Forensic medicine is the specialty in the health care field that deals with medicine as it relates to criminology. Forensic specialists analyze medical evidence to try to determine the facts in criminal cases – cause of death, injury, or illness, and identification of potential suspects. A forensic nurse or forensic pathologist is a key link in our criminal justice system. People in forensic medicine careers provide the legal system with crucial information necessary for administration of justice. The highly technical nature of forensic work requires forensic medicine courses as part of an overall education that also develops effective writing and communication skills. Opportunities for forensic medicine careers exist at every level of law enforcement, from local communities to the federal government.

Forensic Medicine Degree Description

As a specialty within the health care field, a forensic nurse or pathologist requires the basic education in medicine of a doctor or nurse, but also specialized forensic medicine courses. Forensic medicine courses focus on mathematics, statistics, and advanced science courses such as DNA analysis in the classroom, combined with hands on training in use of scientific instruments, crime scene investigation, evidence collection and preservation, report writing, and other skills necessary for the forensic specialist to become an effective member of a criminal investigation team. Degree programs focusing on forensics are available from the associate’s degree level for forensic lab technicians through the doctoral level for forensic pathology and forensic psychology. Forensic nursing positions usually require a bachelor’s degree, an RN license, plus advanced training in forensics.

Forensic Medicine Careers

As technology advances and medical analysis capabilities improve, the field of forensic medicine will experience rapid growth. The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects growth in jobs in almost every health care field to be above average over the coming decade. There are many jobs available in forensic medicine, ranging from lab technicians to forensic nurse to forensic pathologist. Each job requires technical training and salaries tend to become higher as the level of education increases.

Forensic laboratory technicians perform highly technical analytical procedures on physical evidence from crime scenes. Technicians must have strong science backgrounds and hands on experience working with high tech laboratory equipment.

Forensic nurses work with doctors collecting and analyzing evidence. Many specialize in a specific area of crime, such as sexual assault or alcohol related accidents, and become experts at collecting relevant evidence. Forensic nurses also work with crime victims and their families helping them deal with trauma and finding support resources for them.

Forensic pathologists are medical doctors who specialize in forensics. They use advanced analytical techniques in pathology and toxicology to determine cause of death, time of death, or cause of disease or injury in criminal cases. Pathologists prepare reports for criminal investigators and act as expert witnesses in court proceedings, so must have excellent writing and communication skills in addition to technical forensics knowledge.
Forensic medicine is an exciting and growing career field that is a vital part of the criminal justice system. Many workers who enter the field as laboratory technicians decide to continue their educations to advance into higher positions such as forensic nursing and pathology.