BRITISH FORENSIC MEDICINE IS AN IRREGULAR PATCHWORK OF INDIVIDUAL SPECIALISTS WORKING OUTSIDE ANY ORGANIZED FRAMEWORK. THIS SITUATION IS HIGHLY UNSATISFACTORY AND HAS BEEN THE SUBJECT OF CONTINUAL DISCUSSION FOR YEARS. FORENSIC PATHOLOGY SERVICES TO THE CORONER, POLICE, AND LEGAL PROFESSION COME FROM THE FEW UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENTS OF FORENSIC MEDICINE AND THE CONSULTANT PATHOLOGISTS OF THE NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE. THE FULL-TIME ACADEMIC PATHOLOGISTS HAVE THREE MAJOR FUNCTIONS INCLUDING TEACHING MEDICAL STUDENTS THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF LEGAL ASPECTS, PURSUING RESEARCH INTO FORENSIC MEDICINE, AND PROVIDING AN EXPERT AUTOPSY SERVICE TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. UNFORTUNATELY, THE LATTER FUNCTION OFTEN SMOTHERS THE OTHER TWO ACTIVITIES THROUGH VOLUME OF REQUIRED WORK. FREQUENTLY, PATHOLOGISTS ACT FOR THE DEFENSE IN A CRIMINAL CASE, EITHER PERFORMING A SECOND AUTOPSY ON BEHALF OF THE DEFENSE OR ADVISING THE LEGAL REPRESENTATIVES ON THE MEDICAL EVIDENCE PRESENTED BY THE PROSECUTION. WHEN CALLED TO THE CRIME SCENE, THE FORENSIC PATHOLOGIST EXAMINES THE VICTIM, AND DETERMINES WHETHER THE DEATH IS ACCIDENTAL, SUICIDAL, CRIMINAL, OR NATURAL. IF THE DEATH IS SUSPICIOUS, HE EXAMINES THE BODY AND, WITH THE FORENSIC SCIENTIST, SEES THAT NO TRACE OF EVIDENCE IS LOST OR DAMAGED AT THE SCENE. A FORENSIC PATHOLOGIST IS EXPECTED TO ARRIVE AT THE SCENE OF A SUSPICIOUS DEATH WITHOUT DELAY, BUT THE ROLE OF THE POLICE SURGEON SHOULD BE MINIMAL AND CONFINED TO CERTIFYING DEATH. (LWM)