Pathology is the study of the reaction of the body to disease. The medicolegal investigation of death includes a sequence of events: reporting of the death to the coroner or medical examiner; on-scene investigation, evidence gathering, and documentation; the identification of remains; and a medicolegal autopsy. This autopsy may include some or all of the following: visual examination, description, and documentation of the clad body as received; the same on the unclad and dissected body; collection of evidence from without the body for examination by the physical science laboratory; collection of organs and tissues from within the body for ancillary examination; consultation by other biological specialties; review of medical history, social history, or work history; and report preparation. The forensic pathologist works best as a member or leader of a multidisciplinary team charged with the medicolegal investigation of all known or suspected unnatural deaths and usually all unattended, unexpected deaths. Several problems and changes have occurred in the field. There is a trend toward having a physician appointed as leader of a statewide system. More medicolegal investigative systems are becoming associated with medical colleges. Also, more paraprofessionals are working in the field, while fewer physicians are seeking training in forensic pathology. Tables, glossaries, and a list of abbreviations are supplied. Appendixes include a sample autopsy report and examination guidelines. A bibliography has 17 legal and 39 medical citations.