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, prevention of premature death and be responsive to Ontario’s diverse needs.

Our values

  • Integrity
  • Responsiveness
  • Excellence
  • Accountability
  • Diversity

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 defines the roles and responsibilities of pathologists and coroners in death investigation and enhances the quality, organization and accountability of forensic pathology services. The Coroners Act:

  • defines the Ontario Forensic Pathology Service as the unified system under which pathologists provide forensic pathology services, including autopsies
  • defines the position of the chief forensic pathologist as overseer of forensic pathology services
  • defines the positions of the deputy chief forensic pathologist and pathologist
  • requires a registry of pathologists accredited to perform medicolegal autopsies
  • requires the chief forensic pathologist to communicate with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario 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 and order ancillary tests as required, pursuant to their duties.

Our governance

The Ontario Forensic Pathology Service (OFPS) and the Office of the Chief Coroner (OCC) are part of the Ministry of the Solicitor General and are accountable to the minister of the Solicitor General. The deputy minister of the Solicitor General provides direction on administrative matters.

The Death Investigation Oversight Council (DIOC) ensures that death investigation services are effective and accountable. As an independent advisory agency, the DIOC provides oversight of the OFPS and OCC, administers a public complaints process, and provides advice and recommendations to the chief coroner and chief forensic pathologist.

Our structure

Ontario Forensic Pathology Service (OFPS)

Under the Coroners Act, the chief forensic pathologist administers and operates the OFPS. Specifically, the chief forensic pathologist:

  • supervises and directs pathologists in the provision of services
  • conducts programs for the instruction of pathologists
  • prepares, publishes and distributes a code of ethics
  • maintains a register of pathologists authorized to provide services

Two deputy chief forensic pathologists have all the powers and authorities of the chief forensic pathologist in the event the chief forensic pathologist is absent or unable to act, or if the chief forensic pathologist’s position becomes vacant. The deputy chief forensic pathologists also support the chief forensic pathologist in the administration, oversight and quality management of the OFPS.

Provincial Forensic Pathology Unit (PFPU)

The forensic pathologists of the PFPU perform approximately 4200 autopsies per year, mainly from the Greater Toronto Area. The PFPU is affiliated with the University of Toronto and is the central referral facility for many complex autopsies from across the province, including homicides, skeletal remains and suspicious infant and child deaths.

In June 2019, two Medical Manager positions, Autopsy Services and Postmortem Imaging, were created at the Provincial Forensic Pathology Unit to increase the Unit’s capacity for oversight and quality management. These two positions assist the Deputy Chief Forensic Pathologists in leading and directing medicolegal autopsies and the postmortem imaging program at the PFPU.

The individuals in these new positions are:

  • Dr. Maggie Bellis, Medical Manager of Autopsy Services
  • Dr. Michael Pickup,  Medical Manager of Postmortem Imaging.

The operation of the PFPU includes professional and technical roles in addition to forensic pathologists. These include forensic anthropologists, pathologist assistants, technologists and imaging specialists, as well as administrative and management personnel.

New role at the Provincial Forensic Pathology Unit – Physician (Assistants) Extenders

The PFPU has been exploring ways to augment our capacity by using non-physician professionals. While other options were considered, the PFPU concluded that using physician assistants had several advantages.

Physician (assistants) extenders (PEs) are highly trained and regulated professionals utilized in the Ontario health care system to improve access to care. Under the supervision of a licenced physician, PEs perform a range of clinical tasks up to diagnosing and treating illnesses, prescribing medications and assisting in surgeries. Similar to how PEs work under the supervision of a licenced physician in clinical settings, the PEs are also able to work under a licenced forensic pathologist to assist with medicolegal examinations. The Ontario Forensic Pathology Service (OFPS) is the most recent medical subspecialty to integrate the PEs as clinical providers. As a member of the death investigation team, the PE works with forensic pathologists to triage cases, completes an external and internal examination of the body, communicates preliminary autopsy results to coroners and police, consults subject matter experts, and liaises directly with families and coroners to obtain paperwork for organ retentions. The PE has the authority to order ancillary testing and assesses and reviews confidential investigative and medical records. The PE is responsible for review of all the postmortem and ancillary testing findings and report results and opinions in a postmortem examination report for signing by a forensic pathologist. PEs are also responsible for participating in programs to upgrade and maintain the quality assurance of medicolegal autopsies, teach medical and non-medical learners and contribute to research.

In October 2019, the PFPU hired its first PE, David Clutterbuck, and hired a second, Brittini Santos, in January 2020.

The adoption of PEs by the PFPU is consistent with the 2019 Provincial Auditors Report that recommended that the OFPS and OCC evaluate staffing model alternatives to change the current workforce to be inclusive of non-physician professionals.

During the reporting period, the physician extenders completed 144 routine cases

Forensic Pathology Units (FPUs)

FPUs are located in university teaching hospitals in Kingston, London, Ottawa, Sault Ste. Marie and Sudbury. These units provide expertise in forensic pathology for approximately 7400 routine and complex autopsies annually, including homicides and pediatric cases. The Ministry of the Solicitor General, through the Ontario Forensic Pathology Service, provides funding to these units.

Complex forensic autopsies are performed by qualified forensic pathologists, most of whom work at a FPU or at the PFPU in Toronto. Some non-suspicious pediatric autopsies are performed at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto and the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario in Ottawa. Perinatal autopsies are also performed at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto. Occasionally, pediatric forensic cases from Northwestern Ontario are transferred to Winnipeg for autopsy by pathologists registered in Ontario.

Pathologists working in 15 community hospitals support the work of the Ontario Forensic Pathology Service by conducting routine medicolegal autopsies in their facilities on a fee-for-service basis.

Our partners and working relationships

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

The Ontario Forensic Pathology Service (OFPS) also collaborates with universities on research, education and training. Furthermore, the OFPS provides services to Canada’s Department of National Defence.