What Types of Death Fall Under a Medical Examiners Jurisdiction?
Deaths that have an impact on the “public’s interest”. These types of death are outlined in Iowa Code chapter 331.802(3), and generally include: • Violent deaths, which include homicide, suicide, or accidental death resulting from physical, mechanical, thermal, electrical, or radiation injury; • Deaths related to disease thought to be virulent or contagious, which may constitute a public health hazard; • Persons who die suddenly when in apparent good health; • Suspicious circumstances; • Unknown or obscure causes; and, • Unclaimed/unidentified bodies.
