Which of the following is NOT a typical responsibility of a forensic pathologist?

A forensic pathologist plays a crucial role in the investigation of deaths, particularly those that are sudden, unexplained, or involve legal implications. Their primary responsibilities include conducting autopsies, which involve examining deceased individuals to determine the cause and manner of death. They meticulously document their findings, ensuring that all relevant information is recorded comprehensively.

Moreover, forensic pathologists are often called to testify in court as expert witnesses, providing explanations of their findings and the methodologies they employed during the autopsy process. This testimony is vital for legal proceedings, especially in criminal cases.

However, performing surgical procedures on living patients is not within the scope of a forensic pathologist's duties. This responsibility typically falls to clinical pathologists or surgeons, who are trained to operate on living individuals to treat or diagnose medical conditions. Therefore, the statement regarding performing surgical procedures on living patients accurately identifies a responsibility that is not typical for forensic pathologists.