They are the same as a medical examiner, right?
Forensic pathologists perform forensic autopsies. This is different than an autopsy performed after a death that the medical examiner's office is not interested in. These are usually done at the request of the family of the deceased. A medical examiner does not necessarily perform any autopsies at all. A medical examiner can be a family doctor, that just has the responsibility of signing death certificates for medical examiner deaths. This is often the situation in smaller counties, where they don't have the budget to employ a forensic pathologist. If the medical examiner there absolutely needs an autopsy performed, such as in the case of a death of a child, or a homicide, then they will usually send the body to the nearest forensic pathologist for them to do an autopsy, and then go from the pathologist's report to sign the death certificate. Medical examiners are often forensic pathologists, but do not have to be. Also, forensic pathologists are often medical examiners, or deputy medical examiners for various counties.
Yes is the short answer. If you want to perform autopsies you can also become just a regular pathology doctor.
