Why is the Coroners Office involved?
Wisconsin State Statute 979 sets the guidelines for Coroner’s and Medical Examiners in Wisconsin. All deaths in Manitowoc County regardless of cause and manner are reportable to the Coroner’s office. The Coroner and/or Deputy Coroner will determine if our office will need to investigate deaths reported to our office.
• The Coroner Office is required to investigate all sudden, violent, traumatic or unexpected deaths. This includes deaths from apparent natural diseases but the individuals treating physician has no knowledge of an existing medical condition that could credibly have caused the sudden death. Under these circumstances, it becomes the Coroners responsibility to determine how and why an individual died. The Coroner is also responsible for assuring the individuals proper identity and that next of kin have been notified. • A Coroners investigation will always include examination of the deceased, but may or may not include: • Interviews with family members, doctors and/or witnesses; • Photography of the deceased and/or the scene where death occurred; • Autopsy of the body of the deceased; • Toxicology of the deceased; and, • Possibly collecting and holding any personal property from (or about) the deceased person that the Coroner feels may assist with the determinations. Return to top • Types
• The Coroner Office is required to investigate all sudden, violent, traumatic or unexpected deaths. This includes deaths from apparent natural diseases but the individuals treating physician has no knowledge of an existing medical condition that could credibly have caused the sudden death. Under these circumstances, it becomes the Coroners responsibility to determine how and why an individual died. The Coroner is also responsible for assuring the individuals proper identity and that next of kin have been notified. A Coroners investigation will always include examination of the deceased, but may or may not include: Interviews with family members, doctors and/or witnesses; Photography of the deceased and/or the scene where death occurred; Autopsy of the body of the deceased; Toxicology of the deceased; and, Possibly collecting and holding any personal property from (or about) the deceased person that the Coroner feels may assist with the determinations. Return to top • Types of deaths i
