Why is the Medical Examiners Office involved?
Pursuant to Oregon Revised Statute 146.090, the Medical Examiner shall investigate and certify the cause and manner of death on all human deaths: Apparently homicidal, suicidal or occurring under suspicious or unknown circumstances; Resulting from the unlawful use of controlled substances, or the use or abuse of chemicals or toxic agents; Occurring while incarcerated or in police custody; Apparently accidental or following an injury; By disease, injury or toxic agent during or arising from employment; While not under the care of a physician during the period immediately previous to death; Related to disease which might constitute a threat to public health; or In which a human body has been disposed of in an offensive manner.
Under California law the Medical Examiner is both required and empowered to determine the cause and circumstance of certain deaths. For additional details, see Government Code Section 27491 and the Health and Safety Code 102850. In general, deaths of a sudden and unexpected nature are investigated. All deaths related to any type of injury or intoxication must be investigated by our office. This includes deaths that are obviously due to trauma (such as motor vehicle related fatalities) and deaths that are known or suspected to be due to drug or alcohol intoxication. In addition, if an injury or intoxication merely contributes to the death – even in a small way – or is suspected to have contributed to death, the death falls under our jurisdiction. This applies to situations where an individual dies of complications of a prior injury, even if that injury occurred many years ago.
Pursuant to Wisconsin State Statute 979.01, the Medical Examiner’s Office is required to investigate deaths that fall into the following categories: • All deaths in which there are unexplained, unusual or suspicious circumstances. • Homicides • Suicides • Maternal deaths following abortion. • Deaths due to poisoning, whether homicidal, suicidal, or accidental. • Deaths following accidents, whether the injury is or is not the primary cause of death. • When there was no physician or accredited practitioner in attendance within 30 days preceding death. • When a physician refuses to sign or is unable to sign the death certificate. • Deaths of inmates of public institutions, who have not been hospitalized for organic illness. • Deaths that occur in association with, or as a result of diagnostic, therapeutic, or anesthetic procedures. • Deaths due to neglect. • Fetus of 20 weeks or older, unattended by a physician or practitioner. • Sudden deaths of persons not disabled by recognizable disea
