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What types of deaths must be investigated?

WHAT TYPES OF DEATH ARE TO BE REPORTED TO THE CORONER?Accidental Deaths.Homicidal Deaths (By any means, suspected or known)Suicidal Deaths (By any means, suspected or known)Sudden Deaths.Occupational Deaths.Deaths while confined.Therapeutic deaths.Medical malpractice.More items...

Who is involved with death investigations and may or may not be a licensed physician?

Modern coroners inquire into the cause and manner of a death, and often complete the death certificate. Across the U.S., coroners are usually elected laypersons who may or may not have medical training, depending on local statutes.

How do you investigate a death?

Document the scene via photographs, diagrams and notes, and record smells, noises, and lighting conditions. Pay particular attention to the positioning of the body, which can suggest how the death occurred and whether it was tampered with — dragged, for example, or re-positioned.

What are the 3 stages of the death investigation process?

The 3 stages of a Death Investigation are Examination, Correlation, and Interpretation. All are equalling important, each stage needs the input of all involved in that stage of the investigation and each may need specialized input.Sep 10, 2012

What are 2 different types of deaths investigators may investigate?

Coroners and Medical Examiners Medical examiners investigate deaths due to homicide, suicide, or accidental violence, and deaths of persons unattended by a physician, or who succumbed to a contagious disease.

What is a legal death investigator?

What is a Medicolegal Death Investigator? The role of the medicolegal death investigator is to investigate any death that falls under the jurisdiction of the medical examiner or coroner, including all suspicious, violent, unexplained and unexpected deaths.

Can cause of death be determined without an autopsy?

Medical examiners and coroners commonly determine cause and manner of death without an autopsy examination. Some death certificates generated in this way may not state the correct cause and manner of death.

How does a medical examiner determine cause of death?

An important feature is the reported underlying cause of death determined by the medi cal examiner or coroner and defined as (a) the disease or injury that initiated the train of morbid events leading directly to death, or (b) the circumstances of the accident or violence that produced the fatal injury.

What are the five legally defined manners of death?

The classifications are natural, accident, suicide, homicide, undetermined, and pending. Only medical examiner's and coroners may use all of the manners of death.

How long does an inquest take after death?

It varies. Inquests can be held a few weeks or a few years after the death. The main inquest hearing should normally take place within six months or as soon as possible after the death has been reported to the coroner. If the situation is complicated it can take longer.

What is the first thing a death scene investigator should do upon arriving at the scene?

The first step upon arrival at a death scene is to cordon off a perimeter that includes all areas that may contain evidentiary items or give clues to establishing the manner and cause of death. There should be one entry/exit area and its use should be limited to those personnel involved in evaluating the scene.

What happens when a death is under investigation?

A Coroner's Officer will phone you to explain the results of the post mortem examination and let you know that an investigation has been opened. Someone who knew the deceased well will need to identify the body to a Police Coroner's Officer. Depending on the circumstances of the death, they may need to view the body.