For the first time in history, the American Board of Pathology was busy here Friday giving qualifying examinations in the field of forensic pathology.
Pathologists from all sections, of the nation were taking these examinations, which were being conducted at the Louisiana State university medical school.
Dr. Alan Moritz, of Cleveland, Ohio, dean of forensic pathologists in America, said formerly the board has been holding examinations twice yearly for pathologists in general. But never before has a special examination been! given for foreisie pathologists, added the professor of pathology at Western Reserve university.
"For the first time" said Dr. Moritz, "we are holding examinations for physicians who desire to become officially recognized as experts in the kind of medical knowledge possessed by the coroner's office or the medical examiner's office."
Dr. Russell Fisher of Baltimore, Md., said:"This is the first time that the medicine of the coroner's office and of the medical examiner's office has been recognized as sufficiently different from other forms of medical- practice and knowledge to warrant a special examination.
"This is the first time that an examination on a national scale has been set up for recognition of
experts in this field"
Dr. Fisher is chief medical examiner for the state of Maryland. Both Dr. Moritz and Dr. Fisher, who are members of the examiinng committee for the board, said during the past 10 years there has been an increasing need for experts in the field of forensic medicine.
"Without such experts, people could be falsely accused of a crime," explained Dr. Mor-itz, who used to- be professor of legal medicine at Harvard university." In an unwitnessed automobile accident or when someone dies unexpectedly from natural causes under suspicious circumstances, they could be arrested for a murder they did not commit." Only competent medical facts can prevent this."
Asked why New Olreans was chosen as the place for holding the examination, the physicians said New Orleans has long taken an interest in forensic medicine and that Orleans parish coroner's office, is one of the! best in the nation.
"People expert in the field 6f forensic medicine have known your coroner's office here for years,'1 said Dr. Fisher. "They have watched it advance since 1952 until today it is one of the best."
The visiting pathologists saidj they were distressed to learn that the coroner's office budget in New Orleans may be cut. Such a cut, they pointed out, could reduce the office from a top-ranking one to a mediocre one.
The two physicians were being assisted by Dr. Rudolph Muelling, chief toxicologist and pathologist of the coroner's office here and associate professor of pathology at the Louisiana State university Medical school
PHOTO:
HERE TO CONDUCT the nation's first qualifying examina4 tions fpr forensic pathologists Friday were Dr. Russell Fisher (left), Baltimore, Md., medical examiner for the state off Maryland, and Dr. Alan Moritz of Cleveland, Ohio, dean of forensic pathologists in America. The examinations were given at the Louisiana State university medical school by the American Board of Pathology.
