Pathologist
Pathologist - a doctor with a higher medical education, specializing in pathological anatomy - the autopsy of the dead in order to identify possible pathologies, based on the normal structure of the human body. The treatment of the pathological conditions themselves is not the responsibility of the pathologist.
The profession of a pathologist began in the 19th century. The first scientific principles of the morphological method used in pathology to this day were laid by the German scientist Rudolf Virchow, who showed in practice the cellular essence of any disease. Over time, it turned out to be impossible to explain the nature of the pathological processes occurring in the body with a single cell theory; hormonal and neurohumoral teachings appeared, which laid the foundation for pathological anatomy as a new functional direction in medicine.
Tasks and subject of study of the doctor of the pathologist
Pathological processes at the cellular, tissue, subcellular and organ levels are the subject of study by a pathologist. The tasks included in the professional activity of a specialist include:
- Revealing the causes and conditions for the development of pathological processes in the body;
- Study of the pathogenesis - the mechanism of the origin and development of the disease, as well as its individual manifestations;
- Establishing the characteristics of the morphological picture of the disease;
- Study of possible complications and outcomes of the pathological process;
- Study of the regularity of changes in the picture of the disease (pathomorphosis);
- Study of pathological processes resulting from medical and diagnostic procedures (iatrogenies);
- Posthumous and lifetime diagnosis of diseases using methods that study both the external and internal structure of the body.
In the course of his practice, the pathologist carries out both postmortem and lifetime diagnostics of pathological processes. Intravital diagnosis is called the term "biopsy", which literally translated from Greek means "watching live", implying taking tissue from a sick person from remote organs or their individual parts. The resulting piece of tissue is called a biopsy. During the examination of a biological material, the pathologist determines the presence or absence of cancer cells in it and sends the corresponding result indicating the diagnosis to the attending physician.
In combination with other studies, the conclusion of a pathologist plays an important role in diagnosing diseases, planning further treatment, and surgical interventions.
Pathological autopsy
An autopsy by a pathologist and examination of the corpses of deceased people is called "autopsy" ("I look myself"). The purpose of the postmortem examination (or, as it is also called, obduction) is to determine the nature of the painful changes that led to the death of the patient. There is also a forensic autopsy, which is carried out by order of the judicial authorities, if it is assumed that the death was due to criminal or violent acts.
This medical procedure is important in the practice of teaching, improving medical knowledge, diagnosing and treating diseases. On the basis of a pathological autopsy, the problems of resuscitation and thanatology are solved, and statistical indicators of mortality are determined.
In all European countries, including Russia, an autopsy is performed only with the written permission of the relatives of the deceased, unless:
- It is impossible to establish an accurate final diagnosis of the disease that caused death, regardless of the length of the patient's stay in the hospital;
- A suspicion of a drug overdose of the deceased was identified;
- Death occurred as a result of diagnostic, preventive, instrumental, resuscitation, medical procedures, during blood transfusion;
- Death occurred on suspicion of infectious, oncological diseases, environmental disasters;
- The onset of death was recorded in pregnant women, women in labor, as well as women in the postpartum period.
- The fact of death requires a forensic examination of the corpse.
The results of the studies carried out are documented in the form of a pathological report. The conclusion of the pathologist in this case reflects the cause of death, whether it is death from illness, violent death or medical error.
How to get the profession of a pathologist
A pathologist is a person with higher medical education who has completed postgraduate training in the specialty "Pathological Anatomy". This specialist must know the content of pathological anatomy as a practical discipline, possess modern methods of pathological diagnostics, the rules for filling out regulatory and methodological documents, the procedure for conducting pathological examinations, general and particular principles of clinical, laboratory, instrumental diagnostics of systems and organs of the human body, methods of treatment of basic diseases, medical and social examination, etc.
The profession of a pathologist implies that a specialist has such personal qualities as patience, scrupulousness, analytical thinking, good memory, responsibility, adherence to high moral principles.
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