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What is a Medical Examiner?
A Medical Examiner is a physician with particular expertise in
investigating violent, sudden and unexpected, suspicious or unattended
deaths.
What is the jurisdiction of the Medical Examiner?
Florida Statute §406.11 charges the medical examiner in the district
in which the death occurred or the body was found to determine the cause
of death when a person dies:
- of criminal violence
- by accident, suicide, or by poison
- suddenly, when in apparent good health
- unattended by a practicing physician or other recognized practitioner
- in any prison or penal institution
- in police custody
- in any suspicious or unusual circumstance
- by criminal abortion
- by disease constituting a threat to public health, and
- by disease, injury, or toxic agent resulting from employment.
For deaths which occur in one of these categories, this statute also
provides the medical examiner with authority to perform whatever autopsies
or laboratory examinations deemed to be in the public interest.
Additionally, deaths involving cremation, burial at sea, donation to
science, or removal of the body from the state must first be referred
to the Medical Examiner for approval. The Medical Examiner reviews the
cause of death information to ensure that jurisdiction under §406.11
does not exist. Transportation of the deceased to the Department is
usually not required if the death did not involve trauma.
What happens when a death is first reported to the
Medical Examiner?
Information concerning medical history, history of injury and the
circumstances preceding the death is gathered to determine whether or
not §406.11 jurisdiction exists.
If a death is solely the result of natural disease and a doctor is
available to sign a death certificate, the funeral home or crematory
may transport the deceased directly to its facility. If any of the
circumstances described in the statute exist, the body will be brought
to the Medical Examiner Department for investigation.
How is the body transported to the Medical Examiner?
A private contractor transports bodies to the Medical Examiner facility.
Additionally, the contractor's dispatcher answers calls made to the
investigative section after hours. Transport personnel are not County
employees; however, comments concerning the quality of service should
be made to the Medical Examiner's Manager of Operations.
Why would the Medical Examiner investigate a death
where there was no criminal action?
Criminal violence is only one of the categories requiring investigation
by the Department. More than 80 percent of Medical Examiner investigations
involve accidental deaths and natural deaths for which no doctor is
available to sign a death certificate.
Why is it necessary to investigate the expected death
of someone who died under the care of a doctor in a hospital or other
health care facility?
Because there is often a delay, sometimes measured in years, between
injury and death, it is easy to overlook an accident or other trauma
which caused the condition for which the decedent was being treated when
death occurred. For example, an individual who fell, broke a hip,
developed pneumonia and died would require Medical Examiner investigation
because the underlying cause of the pneumonia was a fall - an accidental
event.
If the cause of death is obvious, such as a traffic
accident, why must the Medical Examiner investigate?
What appears to be obvious may not be true. Only a thorough investigation
will reveal whether the "obvious" traffic accident death was
caused by a heart attack, carbon monoxide poisoning or some event other
than the apparent impact injuries.
What is an autopsy?
An autopsy is an intricate post-mortem medical procedure often requiring
complex laboratory tests. It includes examination of all major organs
to document injury, disease or the lack thereof. An autopsy
does not interfere with viewing the deceased.
Is an autopsy always necessary?
An autopsy is not normally required when the death is known to be the
result of natural causes, adequate medical history exists and there are
no signs of foul play. The Medical Examiner usually investigates these
deaths because either the attending physician is not available to sign
the death certificate or funds are not available to bury the deceased.
An autopsy will normally be conducted in all other instances.
Autopsy results are used to determine the cause of death and, in criminal
cases, to establish the material facts. Additionally, this procedure
may document previously undiagnosed diseases which may have a tendency
to be inherited. It also provides vital information to families filing
insurance and other claims.
Suppose I want an autopsy to be performed or suppose
I object to an autopsy?
If the body has been brought to the Department solely because of a lack
of burial funds, an autopsy is not normally performed. In these cases,
a family request for an autopsy always will be honored.
For other deaths which would not normally be
investigated by the Medical Examiner, a family requested autopsy
may be performed if staffing and caseload permit.
Objections to autopsies are handled on a case-by-case basis. If the
wishes of the family can be accommodated without compromising the public
interest, an autopsy will not be performed.
What do I need to do while the Medical Examiner is
investigating the death?
Usually, all you need to do is select a funeral home or crematory. The
funeral director will take care of the remaining details.
An investigator may contact you for information concerning the medical
history of the deceased, funeral arrangements, date of birth, social
security number and similar information.
When will I be able to schedule funeral arrangements?
Rarely will investigation by the Medical Examiner delay funeral
arrangements. Caseload permitting, same-day release is typical for bodies
received by mid-morning. Occasionally, law enforcement investigation or
identification requirements may delay release until additional information
has been obtained.
When is a legal identification required and what
constitutes a legal identification?
Legal identification is required for all deaths involving possible criminal
charges. This is usually accomplished by viewing a photograph, preferably
by an acquaintance of the deceased rather than a family member, at the
Department.
Additionally, all bodies which, due to injury or decomposition, cannot
be visually identified require identification by fingerprints, dental
or other x-rays.
An identification based on clothing, jewelry, tattoos, or similar presumptive
evidence does not constitute a legal identification. Under certain
circumstances release for burial may be delayed while legal identification
is pursued.
May I view the body at the Medical Examiner Department?
Unfortunately, the current building does not have a viewing facility nor
is the Department staffed to accommodate viewing requests.
What happens to the deceased's personal effects?
If at all possible, valuables and other personal effects are not
transported to the Department. All such items, except clothing, are removed
at the scene, inventoried and given to a law enforcement officer, health
care worker, friend or family member. Except for evidence, any items
transported to the Department are released to the funeral home or crematory
with the deceased.
When can I find out the cause of death? How may I
obtain an autopsy report?
The cause of death can be obtained as soon as the investigation has been
completed, often on the day the body was brought to the medical examiner.
Investigative inquires may be made by calling 272-6377 weekdays,
8 a.m. - 5 p.m., and 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. on weekends and holidays.
An autopsy report can be obtained by mailing a brief letter of request
and a stamped self-addressed business size envelope (with two first-class
stamps affixed) to the Medical Examiner Department at the address listed
below. (Depending on the type of testing required to determine
the cause and manner of death, a completed report may not be available
until six to eight weeks after the death.) Administrative
inquiries can be made by calling 272-5342 Monday through Friday, between
8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
How do I get a copy of a Death Certificate?
Copies of the death certificate are available from either the
funeral director or the local State Vital Records office (813) 307-8002.
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