What major would best prepare one for the MCAT

WayOutWestMom
Sun, 28 Jul 2013 22:06:37 +0000

Medical examiners are MDs, but forensic pathologists don’t need to be. I know one forensic pathologist who works for the OMI (Office of Medical Investigations–the state office which investigates unexplained deaths and certifies cause of death). He is definitely not an MD, but rather a PhD. He cannot issue an official cause of death, only the Chief Medical Examiner can do that. (At least in my state–see below.) But my acquaintance can and does run pathological tests and contribute the final report. The CME has a whole host of non-MD specialists working under him.

Some states do not have state medical examiners. Instead they have coroners which are elected or appointed officials who are not required to have any medical training whatsoever. Coroners can and do assign cause of death and issue death certifcates. (And I know this from first hand experience.)

Adding to the confusion, the titles of medical examiner and coroner are quite often used interchangably. In many US jurisdictions, no medical training is required to be either a medical examiner or a coroner.