38:
87:. In 2002, 22 states had a medical examiner system, 11 states had a coroner system, and 18 states had a mixed system. Since the 1940s, the medical examiner system has gradually replaced the coroner system and serves about 48% of the US population. The largest medical examiner's office in the United States is located in
348:
To become experts in pathology, specifically, additional training is required after medical school. The first step is to complete pathological forensic training. This usually consists of anatomic and clinical pathology training which takes anywhere from four to five years to complete. After this, the
377:
In the United States, there are fewer than 500 board-certified forensic pathologists, but the
National Commission on Forensic Science estimates the country needs 1,100–1,200 to perform the needed number of autopsies. The shortage is attributed to the nature of the work and the higher pay in other
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The types of death reportable to the system are determined by federal, state, or local laws. Commonly, these include violent, suspicious, sudden, and unexpected deaths, death when no physician or practitioner was present or treating the decedent, inmates in public institutions, those in custody of
106:
or a layperson. In the 19th century, the public became dissatisfied with lay coroners and demanded that the coroner be replaced by a physician. In 1918, New York City introduced the office of the Chief
Medical Examiner and appointed physicians experienced in the field of pathology. In 1959, the
226:(blood analysis). Pulling from each area of knowledge, a medical examiner is an expert in determining a cause of death. This information can help law enforcement solve cases and is crucial to their ability to track criminals in the event of a
83:; and second, the medical examiner system, which evolved from the coroner system during the latter half of the 19th century. The type of system varies across jurisdictions, with over 2,000 separate jurisdictions for investigating
273:
and seven other areas, which involved medical examiners looking at more than 27,000 deaths since 2008, found 25% of hospital death certificates were inaccurate and 20% of causes of death were wrong.
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In the United States, medical examiners require extensive training in order to become experts in their field. After high school, the additional schooling may take 11–18 years. They must attend a
369:
The general job outlook for medical examiners in the United States is considered to be excellent. Remuneration varies by location, but it is estimated to average between $ 105,000 and $ 500,000.
293:, for example, some counties do not require individuals to have any special educational or medical training to hold this office. In most jurisdictions, a medical examiner is required to have a
233:
Within the United States, there is a mixture of coroner and medical examiner systems, and in some states, dual systems. The requirements to hold office vary widely between jurisdictions.
254:, a new statutory Medical Examiner system based in NHS Acute Trusts commenced in 2019 and is expected to be fully operational several years later. A medical examiner is always a
297:, although in many there is no requirement for specialized training in pathology. Other jurisdictions have stricter requirements, including additional education in
650:
671:
Coroners and
Medical Examiners: A Comparison of Options Offered by Both Systems in Wisconsin Jenifer Keach, Rock (WI) County Coroner, April 6, 2010
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medical specialties. It has caused long delays in some states and resulted in fewer investigations and less thorough investigations in some cases.
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is another four years with the first two dedicated to academics and the rest of the two used to gain
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Qualifications for medical examiners in the US vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. In
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that investigates deaths that occur under unusual or suspicious circumstances, to perform
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333:(MD or DO) is often required to become a medical examiner. To enter medical school, the
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Jason Payne-James, ed. (2005), "Death
Investigation Systems/United States of America",
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performs these and other duties. It is common for a medical examiner to visit
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Randy
Hanzlick; Debra Combs (1998), "Medical Examiner and Coroner Systems",
281:, said it was crucial there was "independent scrutiny of causes of death".
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Working Stiff: Two Years, 262 Bodies, and the Making of a
Medical Examiner
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knowledge and rely on this during their work. In addition to studying
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A medical examiner's duties vary by location, but typically include:
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821:"Public Health Law Program: Coroner/Medical Examiner Laws, by State"
476:"Forensic Medical Examiner Jobs in Forensic Criminal Investigations"
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Strengthening
Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward
337:(Medical College Admissions Test) is usually required after which
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802:"What Is the Difference Between a Medical Examiner and a Coroner?"
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In the US, there are two death investigation systems: first, the
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738:"Becoming a Medical Examiner: Salary Info & Job Description"
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See also the links at the bottom of the linked article.
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Gory details: adventures from the dark side of science
305:. Medical examiners are typically appointed officers.
554:. Washington, DC: National Geographic Partners, LLC.
651:"Medical examiners help expose patient safety risks"
762:"Families suffer due to medical examiner shortage"
190:performing other functions depending on local law.
610:"Forensic Pathologist | explorehealthcareers.org"
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166:studying tissue, organs, cells, and bodily fluids
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27:Post-mortem investigation forensic pathologist
714:"Medical Examiner – Forensic Science Careers"
689:"How to Become a Medical Examiner in 5 Steps"
349:physician may complete an anatomic pathology
325:sufficient for admission to medical school.
502:Encyclopedia of Forensic and Legal Medicine
653:. Health Service Journal. 12 February 2015
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119:, deaths during or immediately following
634:"National Medical Examiners Report 2022"
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210:. Medical examiners specialize in
68:. They are necessarily trained in
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434:"Coroner vs. medical examiner"
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279:Royal College of Pathologists
41:Hawaiian medical examiner van
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127:procedures or deaths due to
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359:American Board of Pathology
218:, they are also trained in
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550:Engelhaupt, Erika (2020).
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422:. 2009. pp. 241–253.
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230:or other related events.
175:maintaining death records
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718:Forensic Science Careers
614:explorehealthcareers.org
420:National Academies Press
187:identifying unknown dead
111:was formally certified.
107:medical subspecialty of
62:post-mortem examinations
30:Not to be confused with
865:Health care occupations
530:10.1001/jama.279.11.870
785:. New York: Scribner.
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18:Chief medical examiner
583:Institute of Medicine
222:, DNA technology and
181:working closely with
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860:Forensic occupations
277:, president of the
303:forensic pathology
171:death certificates
109:forensic pathology
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850:Medical examiners
792:978-1-4767-2726-4
561:978-1-4262-2098-2
418:. Washington DC:
323:bachelor's degree
269:Pilot studies in
224:forensic serology
206:or to testify in
56:in some American
16:(Redirected from
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723:2018-03-30
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619:2018-03-30
486:2018-03-30
443:12 October
394:References
355:fellowship
321:to earn a
319:university
220:toxicology
125:diagnostic
870:Pathology
351:residency
309:Education
299:pathology
291:Wisconsin
271:Sheffield
89:Baltimore
70:pathology
51:appointed
855:Coroners
657:10 March
382:See also
373:Shortage
343:clinical
228:homicide
216:cadavers
212:forensic
194:In some
169:issuing
93:Maryland
66:inquests
54:official
830:21 June
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585:. 2003.
538:9516003
327:Biology
315:college
260:coroner
248:England
200:coroner
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129:neglect
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151:, and
135:Duties
104:lawyer
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517:JAMA
445:2014
335:MCAT
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