How long does it take to determine the cause of death?
In the age of television we expect investigations to be completed in the 60 minute time frame. When the cause of death is dependent upon the pathologist’s study and lab tests, 4-6 weeks or more may be necessary. More in depth tests than the familiar breathalyzer are used and instant answers are not possible. The resulting information is more helpful to the family in understanding exactly what happened to their loved one. Also, careful documentation gives insurance companies the facts they need to pay death benefits.
