The Ontario Forensic Pathology Service (OFPS) provides forensic pathology services under the Coroners Act. The OFPS works closely with the Office of the Chief Coroner (OCC) to ensure a coordinated and collaborative approach to death investigation in the public interest. Together, the Chief Forensic Pathologist (CFP) and Chief Coroner provide collaborative leadership for Ontario’s death investigation system.

Our vision

Deliver a high-quality death investigation system for a safer and healthier Ontario.

Our mission

Support the administration of justice and the prevention of premature death, while being responsive to Ontario’s diverse needs.

Our values

  • Inclusion
  • Integrity
  • Excellence

The OFPS applies these core values by embracing an independent and evidence-based approach that emphasizes the importance of thinking objectively in pursuit of the truth. The OFPS is committed to service, research and teaching.

Our legislation

The Coroners Act sets out the roles and responsibilities of pathologists and coroners and enhances the quality, organization and accountability of forensic pathology services. Specifically, it:

  • defines the OFPS as the unified system under which registered pathologists provide forensic pathology services, including autopsies
  • establishes the position of the CFP as overseer of forensic pathology services
  • establishes the positions of the Deputy Chief Forensic Pathologists (DCFPs) and registered pathologists
  • requires a Register of Pathologists accredited to perform medicolegal autopsies
  • requires the CFP to communicate with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) on any adverse findings related to competency and professionalism of a registered pathologist

Registered pathologists have legal authority under the Coroners Act to attend scenes under investigation and order ancillary tests as required.

Our governance

The OFPS and the OCC are part of the Ministry of the Solicitor General (SOLGEN) and are accountable to the Solicitor General. The Deputy Solicitor General, Community Safety, provides direction on administrative matters.

The Death Investigation Oversight Council (DIOC) oversees the Chief Coroner (CC) and the CFP and provides advice and recommendations on behalf of the public.

Our structure

Ontario Forensic Pathology Service

The CFP oversees medicolegal autopsy services provided under the Act and is accountable for registered pathologists. Although the investigating coroner and regional supervising coroner play an organizational role in requesting and arranging autopsies, all professional matters related to pathology fall under the OFPS Register of Pathologists and the CFP. In addition to maintaining the Register, the CFP:

  • supervises and directs pathologists in the provision of services
  • facilitates educational programming for pathologists
  • prepares, publishes and distributes a code of ethics

Two DCFPs support the CFP in the administration, oversight and quality management of the OFPS.

Provinical Forensic Pathology Unit (PFPU)

The forensic pathologists of the PFPU performed approximately 6,380 autopsies in 2021–2022 in Ontario, mainly from Toronto, Hamilton and surrounding areas. The PFPU is the central referral facility for many complex autopsies from across the province, including homicides, skeletal remains and suspicious infant and child deaths.

The PFPU comprises many roles in addition to the forensic pathologists, including:

  • forensic anthropologists and identification specialists
  • physician assistants
  • pathologist’s assistants
  • histotechnologists
  • forensic services technologists
  • dispatchers/morgue attendants
  • forensic photographers
  • imaging technologists
  • morgue technologists
  • managers and administrators, as well as consultants

Forensic Pathology Units (FPUs) and Community Hospitals

FPUs are in university teaching hospitals in Kingston, London, Ottawa, Sault Ste. Marie and Sudbury. These units provided expertise in forensic pathology for approximately 2,820 routine and complex autopsies in 2021–2022, including homicides and paediatric cases.

Complex forensic autopsies are only performed at one of the FPUs or at the PFPU. Some non-suspicious paediatric autopsies are performed at SickKids in Toronto and the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario in Ottawa. Perinatal autopsies are also performed at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto.

Registered pathologists at 10 community hospitals conduct medicolegal autopsies on non-suspicious cases.

Our partners and working relationships

In Ontario, our major partners are the OCC, municipal and provincial police agencies, the Office of the Fire Marshal, Emergency Management Ontario, the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), the Centre of Forensic Sciences (CFS) as well as the province’s criminal justice system.

The OFPS also provides services to Canada’s Department of National Defence and collaborates with universities on research, education and training.