Virginia's Fatal Drug Overdose Epidemic

Question 1

What makes death an OCME case

Answer 1

• Trauma, injury, violence, or poisoning attributable to accident, suicide, or homicide
• Sudden death to persons in apparent good health
• Death of person in jail, prison, or another correctional institution
• Death of patients of state mental health facilities
• Sudden death of any infant less than 18 mo
• Any other suspicious unusual or unnatural death

Question 2

Purposes for performing toxicology

Answer 2

• Confirmation or elimination of drug death
• Contributor in other cause of death
• Diagnosis of exclusion
• Needed for Commonwealth Attorney