What is the main focus of forensic pathology?

Forensic pathology primarily focuses on determining the cause of death through the performance of autopsies. Pathologists in this field conduct detailed examinations of deceased individuals, looking for physical signs of disease, trauma, or other factors that could explain how and why a person died. This information is crucial in legal contexts, particularly in criminal cases, where establishing the cause of death can have significant implications for investigations and legal proceedings.

While the other options touch on important aspects of forensic science, they do not align with the specific role of forensic pathology. Examining living individuals for injuries pertains to forensic medicine but not specifically to pathology. Analyzing psychological states of victims falls under forensic psychology, which studies the psychological aspects of criminal behavior, rather than the physical examination of the deceased. Collecting evidence from crime scenes is crucial to forensic investigation but is more associated with forensic science and criminalistics rather than the specialized function of forensic pathology, which centers on post-mortem examinations.