Role of the coroner

Question 1

Investigative

Answer 1

Collecting information by examining the body

Question 2

Preventative

Answer 2

Determining cause of death to ensure similar deaths do not occur

Question 3

Administrative

Answer 3

Provides death certificate

Question 4

Judicial

Answer 4

Authority to conduct inquests

Question 5

Medical examiner system

Answer 5

MEs must be medical doctors. ME’s do not have the judicial powers to hold inquests, whereas coroner’s do.

Question 6

Forensic Pathologist

Answer 6

Investigate personnel who identifies the cause, manner, and time of death of a victim in a crime by conducting autopsies

Question 7

Autopsy

Answer 7

A surgical procedure performed by a pathologist on a dead body to ascertain the cause of death from information provided by the body, organs, and bodily fluids

Question 8

Three essential elements to provide information about the death

Answer 8

History - Med history that tells the history of the decedent

Scene - Circumstances surrounding the death

Body - Includes peri- and postmortem information, such as rigor mortis and trauma.

Question 9

Inquest

Answer 9

Requested by the coroner to determine the ID of the deceased, the med cause of death, the manner of death, and make recommendations to prevent future similar deaths