Medical Examiner Flashcards
What is a medical examiner?
physician
4-5 yr residency
fellowship 1 yr for forensics
What is a coroner?
appointed or elected county official non-physician administrative prepares & signs death certificates CANNOT CONDUCT AUTOPSIES
What constitutes a reportable death?
unattended unexplained unexpected infant traumatic
What is a cause of death? 2 types?
physical injury or disease that causes a person to die
1. proximate cause–initiating event
2. immediate cause–recent event
Ex: Gun shot wound, quadriplegia, pneumonia & death.
proximate: GSW
immediate: pneumonia
What is manner of death?
circumstance under which death occurred
includes: natural, accident, suicide, homicide, undetermined
What is the duty of a medical examiner?
positively identify the dead
notify decedent’s next of kin
provide assistance to grieving families
What is the duty of a medical examiner?
positively identify the dead notify decedent's next of kin provide assistance to grieving families recognize homicidal violence prepare for mass disasters recognize & report communicable & dangerous diseases, poisonings, product safety concerns
How do you identify?
fingerprints dental circumstantial physical xray DNA
How do you identify?
fingerprints dental circumstantial physical (Tattoos etc) xray DNA
What is the order of notification for next of kin?
- spouse
- adult-aged child
- parents
- siblings
- etc.
What is the order of notification for next of kin?
- spouse (even if estranged)
- adult-aged child
- parents
- siblings
- etc.
What is the focus of death certification?
proximate & immediate cause
“just do it”
may have different types of death, unattended, but not unexpected etc.
Private Physicians–can certify natural deaths
Medical Examiner/Coroner–certifies non-natural deaths
