To make the required changes, money is important but so is manpower. There is a shortage of medical examiners and forensic pathologists. A shortage this great has caused pathologists to take on over 500 cases per year which is double the recommended number of 250 cases per year. The increase number of cases allows more mistakes to be made and less detail to be cataloged by medical examiners and forensic pathologists alike.
Forensic Pathologists
There is a shortage forensic pathologists and this is not just a problem for North Carolina. It has been estimated that there are only 400-500 forensic pathologists in the entire United States. More money needs to be allocated to fellowships and scholarships for medical students interested in becoming a forensic pathologist. The reform states money will go to funding fellowships, but with the small budget increase only 1 to 2 new fellowships can be created.
Raising the salaries of forensic pathologists in the state could cause more pathologists to move to North Carolina increasing the amount of certified forensic pathologists. This would provide more skill and manpower to decrease the caseload for forensic pathologists in the Raleigh office and others across the state. It has been shown that forensic pathologists in the Raleigh office have been doing 10 autopsies per day when experts say they should be at most performing 4. The number of autopsies performed limits the pathologists from doing extensive work leading to mistakes and missed evidence. While the reform has good intentions, more needs to be done.
Medical Examiners
In North Carolina, there are roughly 350 medical examiners, however that number is dwindling. In 2013, 56 new medical examiners were hired but 63 quit their job. If this trend continues, North Carolina will be struggling to perform even 25% of suspicious death investigations, the rate they are performing at now.
An increase in pay was added to the reform and this may help with the dwindling number of medical examiners however there is no guarantee. More needs to be done to spark interest in medical students to choose this career path. An increase in overall salary as well as the fee for performing the autopsy may do the trick.
Forensic Pathologists
There is a shortage forensic pathologists and this is not just a problem for North Carolina. It has been estimated that there are only 400-500 forensic pathologists in the entire United States. More money needs to be allocated to fellowships and scholarships for medical students interested in becoming a forensic pathologist. The reform states money will go to funding fellowships, but with the small budget increase only 1 to 2 new fellowships can be created.
Raising the salaries of forensic pathologists in the state could cause more pathologists to move to North Carolina increasing the amount of certified forensic pathologists. This would provide more skill and manpower to decrease the caseload for forensic pathologists in the Raleigh office and others across the state. It has been shown that forensic pathologists in the Raleigh office have been doing 10 autopsies per day when experts say they should be at most performing 4. The number of autopsies performed limits the pathologists from doing extensive work leading to mistakes and missed evidence. While the reform has good intentions, more needs to be done.
Medical Examiners
In North Carolina, there are roughly 350 medical examiners, however that number is dwindling. In 2013, 56 new medical examiners were hired but 63 quit their job. If this trend continues, North Carolina will be struggling to perform even 25% of suspicious death investigations, the rate they are performing at now.
An increase in pay was added to the reform and this may help with the dwindling number of medical examiners however there is no guarantee. More needs to be done to spark interest in medical students to choose this career path. An increase in overall salary as well as the fee for performing the autopsy may do the trick.