Transcript Slide 1
Forensic Pathology & Death Investigations in Pima County Green Valley Council Gregory L. Hess, MD Chief Medical Examiner Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner Overview Purpose of it all Brief history of death investigation Coroner, Medical Examiner, Forensic Pathologist Death investigation systems Arizona death investigation Pima County Office specifics Types of death Purpose of the Medical Examiner’s Office Determines cause and manner of death of decedents that fall under jurisdiction of ME Aid justice system Collect evidence Testify Interpret injury Estimate postmortem interval Assist both prosecution and defense Purpose of the Medical Examiner’s Office Public health Report deaths due to communicable disease Authorize cremation Tissue and organ donation Vital statistics Assist families Answer questions Timely death certification for funeral arrangements Medical Examiner Jurisdiction No doctor available to sign death certificate Violence Sudden and unexpected Threat to public health Prisoner or in a prison Suspicious, unusual, unnatural Related to occupation Related to medical procedure Unidentified What’s The Difference? Coroner Forensic Pathologist Medical Examiner Coroner Often elected, term limit Qualification specified by local law May not have any medical background Concept from England Minimal practical modern use Forensic Pathologist Physician (pathologist) Additional training in forensics Work in larger population centers Criminal case work and testimony Pima County runs a Forensic Pathologist managed death investigation system No coroners in Arizona, only ME’s and alternate ME’s Medical Examiner Often appointed by government without term limit Often a physician (can be any kind) May be appointed non-physician May not be a Forensic Pathologist Non-Forensic Pathologist medical examiner’s in AZ are called ‘alternate medical examiner’s’ by statute Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner (PCOME) Construction completed in 1989 Renovated 2003-2005 Staff of 33 Storage capacity of 262 full remains ~150 remains currently on location to include skeletal remains PCOME Nationally accredited, one of 75 in US, only accredited office in AZ Post-doctoral fellowship in Forensic Anthropology, only such program in US ~60% of operating budget covered by revenue Lowest per capita cost for death investigation (>200,000) in AZ Total Cases 2004 - 2013 MANNER OF DEATH - 2012 Homicide 2009 - 2012 Homicide by Cause - 2012 Accident by Cause - 2012 Overdose Deaths by Manner - 2012 Overdose Deaths by Drug - 2012 Overdose Deaths 2010-2012 MVA by Type - 2012 Suicide by Cause - 2012 Natural Deaths by Cause - 2012 UBC Deaths 2001 - 2013 Questions?