Medical Examiner: Role in Death Investigations
A medical examiner is a physician trained in pathology who investigates certain deaths and helps decide the cause and manner of death. The National Institute of Justice describes medical examiners as physicians, usually appointed to lead their jurisdiction's office.
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When a case goes to a medical examiner
State law decides which deaths must be referred. The CDC's handbook lists deaths that typically require investigation, including those from unusual or suspicious circumstances, those involving violence (accident, suicide or homicide), sudden natural deaths without warning, and deaths where the person was not being treated by a physician or was unattended. The CDC glossary adds that deaths involving accident, suicide or homicide must be referred to a medical examiner or coroner, who completes the death certificate for those cases.
Medical examiner or coroner
Which office handles a death depends on where it happened. The NIJ notes that the system is local and structures differ widely, and the CDC handbook says state laws and practices vary.
Frequently asked questions
Does every death involve a medical examiner?
No. Most deaths are certified by the attending physician. Only referred cases involve a medical examiner or coroner.
Is a medical examiner the same as a coroner?
Not always. Medical examiners are physicians, while coroners are often elected and may not be medical professionals. See the coroner entry.
Who completes the death certificate in these cases?
The medical examiner or coroner completes the medical section, while the funeral director handles the personal details.
Sources
- National Institute of Justice, The Daunting Task of Strengthening Medical Examiner and Coroner Investigations
- CDC National Center for Health Statistics, Medical Examiners' and Coroners' Handbook on Death Registration and Fetal Death Reporting
- CDC National Center for Health Statistics, Improving Cause-of-Death Reporting Glossary
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Written By
US Records TeamThe US Records Team writes and reviews guides on birth, death, marriage and divorce certificates, using state statutes, agency instructions and court records as sources.
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