Medical Examiner or Coroner Medical Examiner vs Coroner

Medical Examiner or Coroner

Medical Examiner vs Coroner Medical Examiner • Office of Medical Examiner was established in the early 1900’s • Appointed to position • Forensic Pathologist (Physician with additional training) • Identify the body • Performs autopsies • Determine time, cause, manner and mechanism of death • Sign Death Certificate • Notify the next of kin and return the personal belongings of the deceased

Medical Examiner vs Coroner • Coroner began as a Crowner in England in September of 1194 • Elected to the position (resident and voting age) • Do not have to be a medical doctor • Identify the body • Cannot perform autopsies • Signs the death certificate • Notify the next of kin and return the personal belongings of the deceased

Medical Examiner vs Coroner • Using your notes create a Venn Diagram that compares a Medical Examiner and a Coroner

The Cause, Manner and Mechanism of Death • The cause of death is the event that starts the process of dying. For example, a heart attack or a gun shot wound. • The manner of death is the way someone dies. There are 5 manners of death: 1. Homicide 2. Suicide 3. Natural 4. Accident 5. Undetermined

The Cause, Manner and Mechanism of Death • The mechanism of death is the physiological reason the body stops working. For example, extreme blood loss. • Practice: A victim dies from a stab wound from a domestic disturbance. What is the cause, manner and mechanism of death?

The Cause, Manner and Mechanism of Death • Practice: An elderly lady was found dead in a chair at her home. What is the cause, manner and mechanism of death? • Practice: Robin Williams death. What was the cause, manner and mechanism of death?

The Time of Death • A range for the time of death is determined using the following information: • 1. Livor Mortis • 2. Rigor Mortis • 3. Algor Mortis • 4. Stomach Contents • 5. Decomposition – body temperature – chemical composition of eye fluid – Insect activity

The Time of Death • Livor Mortis is the pooling or settling of blood. This condition is also known as the color of death or lividity. • When the heart stops beating, blood will settle in the lowest parts of the body. • Lividity begins to show 2 hours after death. • Discoloration is permanent after 8 hours. • Between 2 and 8 hours, if the skin is pressed, the color will fade. After 8 hours, if the skin is pressed, the color will remain.

The Time of Death • Lividity will also indicate if the body has been moved. For example, if livor mortis is present on the back of a victim that is found on their side then the body has been moved.

Livor Mortis

Livor Mortis

The Time of Death • Rigor Mortis is the temporary stiffness of the body. • The process begins approximately 2 hours after death. • It begins at the head and moves down to the legs. • After 12 hours the body is at the stiffest state. • The stiffness will gradually disappear after 3648 hours.

Rigor Mortis

The Time of Death • Algor mortis is the cooling of the body after death. • On average, a body cools at 1 to 1. 5 degree per hour. • Factors such as weight, clothing, ambient and body temperature all affect the rate at which the body cools.