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4 THE BRIEFING
4.1 Standard
At the briefing, the pathologist will liaise with the Procurator Fiscal, the SIO, the CSM and other experts present, e.g. a forensic specialist advisor, and in the light of available information, determine:
a) where necessary, health and safety issues in relation to the scene of discovery of the body and the personnel involved in the examination of that scene
b) what evidential issues are raised by the circumstances of death and how these issues are best approached.
c) what risks of contamination are posed by the circumstances of the case and what measures are required to prevent such contamination
d) the plan for their examination of the scene and body
e) the best location for the autopsy and, if possible, an approximate time of arrival at that location.
The pathologist should make a full and dated record of the briefing.
4.2 Code of practice
Pathologists must ensure that they obtain such details of the circumstances of the death as are available. They should be briefed by either the Procurator Fiscal, the SIO or another officer delegated for this task by the SIO. This briefing should be carried out at the first available opportunity, and should certainly be done before the pathologist carries out any detailed examination of the body or the scene of the incident. The briefing should include any version of the circumstances emanating from witnesses, together with any possible explanation advanced by a suspect.
Adequate and appropriate briefing is essential if pathologists are to obtain the maximum information from their examination. The act of carrying out the autopsy will alter the condition of the various parts of the body and, if pathologists do not learn of possible explanations for their findings until after the examination is completed, there is a risk that the best evidence to confirm or contradict the explanation may not be available.
Pathologists will not assume that any one of the explanations that have been advanced for the death is necessarily correct. They will, however, in due course consider any explanations in relation to their own findings in order to come to properly reasoned conclusions.
It is important that pathologists record any briefing given to them in sufficient detail, including the date and time, to enable the practitioner themselves (or some other individual) to recall and understand any matter that they may have had in mind when conducting the examination. The absolute importance of proper notes is stressed throughout this code.
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