Final answer:
The forensic pathologist is primarily responsible for estimating the time of death and determining the cause of death, often with the assistance of a forensic anthropologist when dealing with skeletal remains.
Step-by-step explanation:
The primary responsibility for estimating the time of death lies with the forensic pathologist. These medical examiners are trained in pathology and tasked with examining bodies to determine the cause of death. They apply knowledge from various fields, such as disease, toxins, DNA analysis, and more, to assess not only the cause and manner of death but also to estimate the time of death. In cases where the determination of cause is complex, forensic anthropology is used to analyze skeletal remains and provide additional information that assists in identification and contextual factors related to the death.
Forensic anthropologists contribute to this process by using their expertise in osteology, excavation, and analysis of biological matter to aid the forensic pathologist. For instance, they can help approximate an individual’s age, sex, race, and stature based on the skeletal evidence, which is crucial information that the forensic pathologist can use when forming a comprehensive picture of the deceased individual's final moments.
Moreover, forensic anthropologists and pathologists conduct their work while being aware of the societal complexities surrounding death, such as ethics, responsibilities towards the terminally ill, and ways our society processes the concept of dying. Their roles are integral to the criminal justice system and contribute to our understanding of mortality within populations.