What is a Medical Examiner?
In the state of Wisconsin, each county individually chooses between one of two death investigation systems: a Coroner system or a Medical Examiner system. A Coroner system is supervised by a ‘Coroner’ who is elected. Coroners in the state of Wisconsin are not required to be physicians. A Medical Examiner system is one in which the office is supervised by a ‘Medical Examiner,’ who is a county official appointed by the County Executive and/or the County Board of Supervisors. In the state of Wisconsin, the Medical Examiner is not required to be a physician. Both systems have the same authority under Wisconsin state statute. Waukesha County operates as a “Medical Examiner system” and requires that the Medical Examiner be a licensed physician who is a board certified forensic pathologist. Forensic pathology is a medical subspecialty; certification is achieved by examination following training (residency) in pathology (5 years) and additional training (fellowship) in forensic pathology (1 ye
In the state of Wisconsin, each county individually chooses between one of two death investigation systems: a Coroner system or a Medical Examiner system. In general, a “Medical Examiner system” is one in which the office is supervised by a ‘Medical Examiner’, who is a county official appointed by the County Executive and/or the County Board of Supervisors. In the state of Wisconsin, the Medical Examiner is not required to be a forensic pathologist or physician. In contrast, a “Coroner system” is supervised by a ‘Coroner’ who is an elected official. Coroners in the state of Wisconsin are not required to be forensic pathologists or physicians. Both systems have the same authority under Wisconsin state statute. Fond du Lac County operates as a “Medical Examiner system” and requires that the Medical Examiner be a licensed physician who is a board certified forensic pathologist.
A medical examiner is a physician, hence, the title medical examiner. The medical examiner is authorized by state statute with the investigation and examination of persons dying suddenly, unexpectedly, or from physical or chemical injury. The responsibility of the medical examiner is to determine cause and manner of death, and to document and preserve evidence as it relates to the decedent.
A medical examiner (ME) is an alternative name for coroner in the US. However, a coroner is not always a medical examiner. In order for a person to be qualified as a medical examiner, he or she must have an M.D., and be licensed as a pathologist. The pathologist studies disease through examination of tissue, organs, body fluids, and cells. In the case of the medical examiner, this ordinarily takes place after a patient has died. In this case, both a coroner and a medical examiner may be licensed to determine cause of death. In cases of violence, where a crime must be established, but has not caused a death, a medical examiner may assist in rape examinations, analysis of blood, analysis of DNA evidence, and thorough examination of the body to document injury. Usually we are used to seeing a medical examiner in a court setting, where he or she can describe cause of death or establish DNA evidence. When information about a person who is deceased must be acquired, the medical examiner gets
