Medical Examiners Investigate Deaths |
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October 25, 2005
By Kathy A. Johnson
Health Care Programs Columnist
The medical examiner is part doctor, part investigator. Medical examiners investigate sudden, unexpected, or violent death and try to determine how and when a death occurred. According to the CDC, the information provided by medical examiners is important both for the judicial system and for public safety and public health agencies.
A medical examiner may go to a crime scene to begin the process of investigation. He or she will do a brief examination of the body, trying not to disturb evidence. An autopsy may be required (always for a homicide and generally for any unattended death).
In addition to investigating deaths by making physical examinations and performing tests, medical examiners may also testify in court cases and counsel families regarding the cause of the death of their loved one. In one famous case, the medical examiner's office in Florida's District Six was responsible for the autopsy and report following Terri Schiavo's death on March 31, 2005.
Medical examiners are physicians and, as such, must graduate from an accredited medical school, pass a licensing exam, and complete appropriate graduate medical education. (This is one way medical examiners differ from coroners: coroners do not have to be physicians.) Some agencies require pathologic forensic training, but others do not. However, "Most systems employing physicians as part time medical examiners encourage them to take advantage of medical training for medical examiners to increase their level of expertise as applied to death investigation," according to the National Association of Medical Examiners.
If you think working as a medical examiner sounds interesting, you might want to look for forensic medicine, death investigation, and pathology courses while you are in medical school. In addition, the National Association of Medical Examiners and the American Academy of Forensic Sciences offer specialized training programs. (The NAME Web site lists open medical examiner jobs as well as a list of forensic pathology programs in the U.S.)
Sources:
Centers for Disease Control
The National Association of Medical Examiners
www.crimelibrary.com
www.forensicmed.com
About the Author:
Kathy A. Johnson has written articles on health, fitness, and many other topics in her career as a freelance writer and editor. She lives in Florida and is the features editor of Forum, a bimonthly publication of the national mothers group, Mothers & More.
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