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The role of the forensic pathologist in the community is far wider than that usually depicted in forensic television shows or novels. The forensic pathologist provides a specialist pathology investigation service for the Coroner, who in the state of Victoria, is a legally qualified magistrate. Many people are surprised to learn that the majority of the medical examinations, or autopsies, carried out by pathologists, are conducted on people who have died of natural disease. This is because the death has occurred in circumstances where a treating medical practitioner is not available to sign a death certificate, or where for legal reasons, a medical death certificate cannot be used to provide a cause of death for registration purposes.
Forensic pathologists investigate deaths that have occurred in a wide variety of circumstances including, those occurring as a result of natural disease, suicides, accidents, homicides and where the circumstances of the death are unknown. Certain deaths must be examined by the Coroner and these include deaths which have occurred in custody, or where the death has or may have occurred in association with an accident of injury. Deaths occurring whilst the individual is under anaesthetic or where the person was an individual held in care, must also be investigated by a Coroner and it is common for forensic pathologists to carry out medical investigations in relation to these cases. A more detailed discussion of the role of the forensic pathologist, including the role of the pathologist in public health and community health, can be seen in this document  The role of the forensic pathologist
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