| The field of science known as pathology is very | | | | medical team. |
| diverse and focuses on the study of diseases. In | | | | Autopsies are carried out by a forensic pathologist |
| this field there are a variety of careers and a | | | | to establish a patient's cause of death, this is |
| number of different routes of training people can | | | | occasionally considered more difficult than working |
| take. A pathologist may work in a lab analysing | | | | with a live patient but the requirements of the |
| outbreaks of diseases and studying their | | | | results are not so vital. |
| consequences or they may work in a hospital | | | | There are numerous variations of the pathology |
| running tests on blood samples of patients. | | | | profession such as a research pathologist who |
| As one of the oldest medical disciplines, pathology | | | | studies general issues affecting health and disease. |
| dates back as far as the 8th century in the | | | | Veterinary pathologists specialize in animal disease |
| Islamic golden age when doctors began to apply a | | | | while botanical pathologists study disease in plants. |
| degree of scientific information in the diagnosis of | | | | There are some who specialize in the pathology |
| their patients by making links between the causes | | | | of a particular aspect of a human such as speech |
| and results of diseases. One of the oldest | | | | pathologists so the variety of career options |
| pathological methods was identifying diabetes by | | | | attracts a wide range of skills. |
| actually tasting a patient's urine. | | | | The education involved in becoming a pathologist |
| Physicians will usually use pathologists as | | | | is extensive, not only do they need to have a |
| consultants, they may not directly interact with | | | | great knowledge of medical subjects and be |
| the patient but they will be asked to examine | | | | familiar with a wide range of conditions, they |
| things like biopsies and blood samples. They may | | | | must be able to use a wide range of scientific |
| help diagnose the disease and often recommend | | | | equipment. Most countries require pathologists to |
| treatments. They may not ever meet the patient | | | | be certified doctors before undertaking a |
| but they will act as an important part of their | | | | residency in pathology. |