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The article focuses on a national debate about the training and accreditation of the medical professionals who investigate criminally suspicious deaths and homicides. The debate was generated by a groundbreaking review of autopsies performed by Charles Smith, a former Ontario pathologist. The results revealed that medical professionals with no formal training in forensic pathology perform many of the legal autopsies introduced as evidence in courtroom across Canada.

The article reports on the move by judge Stephen Goudge to urge the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada to develop an accredited training program for forensic pathologists. According to Goudge, systemic flaws and inattentive bosses made it possible for an unqualified pathologist to make critical errors that led to wrongful convictions. Goudge asserts that pathologist Charles Smith was unqualified as a forensic pathologist and his training was inadequate.