Trauma in the Emergency Room The Medical Examiner Perspective

Case Synopsis: David Gunby 1030 hrs Nurse- I’m calling to report the natural death of a patient due to renal failure. The doctor at the hospital will sign the death certificate. Nurse- I’m calling to report the natural death of a patient due to renal failure. The doctor at the hospital will sign the death certificate. Investigator- How long has this person been on dialysis? Investigator- How long has this person been on dialysis? Nurse- 35 years. Nurse- 35 years. Investigator- What happened 35 years ago to require dialysis? Investigator- What happened 35 years ago to require dialysis? Nurse- Oh, he was shot and lost a kidney. Nurse- Oh, he was shot and lost a kidney. Investigator- Shot where? Investigator- Shot where? Nurse- In his back. Nurse- In his back.

Who investigates the death? Deceased Person PoliceHospital Medical Examiner

The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office obtains it’s authority from the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure

Type of deaths to be investigated by the ME office Death of a person within 24-hours of admission to a hospital Death of a person within 24-hours of admission to a hospital Death of a person in prison or jail Death of a person in prison or jail Any unnatural death (Homicide/Accident) Any unnatural death (Homicide/Accident) Unattended or not witnessed death Unattended or not witnessed death Unknown cause or circumstances surrounding death Unknown cause or circumstances surrounding death Suspicious deaths Suspicious deaths Suicide Suicide Unattended death (home deaths without medical staff present) Unattended death (home deaths without medical staff present) All deaths of children under 6 y.o.a. All deaths of children under 6 y.o.a.

When should medical staff report the death? State law CCP 49.25, section 7 states that any death falling under the previously listed circumstances “shall immediately” be reported to the ME office. State law CCP 49.25, section 7 states that any death falling under the previously listed circumstances “shall immediately” be reported to the ME office. A delay in reporting the death could jeopardize the police and ME investigation. A delay in reporting the death could jeopardize the police and ME investigation. Failure to report a death in a timely manner puts undue stress on family members. Failure to report a death in a timely manner puts undue stress on family members.

Reporting the death 3 things to have ready Death has been pronounced Death has been pronounced Preferably, next of kin is still present at the hospital to answer any additional questions Preferably, next of kin is still present at the hospital to answer any additional questions Have available the EMS run sheet, hospital admit cover sheet and your paperwork Have available the EMS run sheet, hospital admit cover sheet and your paperwork

Reporting the death Calling the Medical Examiner Call , extension 1 to report a death. Call , extension 1 to report a death. Incoming calls are answered by a field investigator or investigative clerk. Incoming calls are answered by a field investigator or investigative clerk. The amount of time spent reporting a death depends on how well you are organized and how complex the death is. The amount of time spent reporting a death depends on how well you are organized and how complex the death is.

Is trauma or foul play involved? What is trauma? What is trauma? What is foul play? What is foul play?

It’s all in the details The Who, What, Where, When, Why & How Who- is reporting the incident, who is dead, who is the next of kin Who- is reporting the incident, who is dead, who is the next of kin What- occurred What- occurred Where- did the incident take place and where is the decedent Where- did the incident take place and where is the decedent When- did the incident occur and when was the person pronounced When- did the incident occur and when was the person pronounced Why- did they die? Diagnosis or injury details Why- did they die? Diagnosis or injury details How- were they identified, how did they arrive at the hospital, how do you get in touch with the family How- were they identified, how did they arrive at the hospital, how do you get in touch with the family

Location of incident Where is the crime scene? Location in the hospital where the death occurred. Location in the hospital where the death occurred. Location where the original incident occurred. Location where the original incident occurred.

Next of kin Locate next of kin through prior hospital visits, personal property or friends. Locate next of kin through prior hospital visits, personal property or friends. Assist with identifying the decedent. Assist with identifying the decedent. Obtain or confirm medical history. Obtain or confirm medical history. Obtain incident details. Obtain incident details. Explain hospital and medical examiner protocols. Explain hospital and medical examiner protocols. Locate or provide emotional support Locate or provide emotional support

Case Direction Reporting a death Medical Examiner Jurisdiction Case Medical Examiner Jurisdiction Waived Case No Jurisdiction Or involvement from The ME

Jurisdiction Case All cases where the Medical Examiner’s office assumes custody of the case and the decedent. All cases where the Medical Examiner’s office assumes custody of the case and the decedent. Body will be transported to the ME office for an examination which can be up to and including a full autopsy. Body will be transported to the ME office for an examination which can be up to and including a full autopsy. Prepare body by leaving all medical intervention in place and following hospital protocols. Prepare body by leaving all medical intervention in place and following hospital protocols. Copy paperwork for ME review. Copy paperwork for ME review.

Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act of 1996 Commonly referred to as HIPAA Commonly referred to as HIPAA Primarily deals with insurance details Primarily deals with insurance details Has no bearing in death investigations & does not apply to Medical Examiner office Has no bearing in death investigations & does not apply to Medical Examiner office Sec. 1178(a),(2)(B)(b): “Public Health- Nothing in this part shall be construed to invalidate or limit the authority, power, or procedures established under any law providing for the reporting of disease or injury, child abuse, birth, or death, public health surveillance, or public health investigation or intervention. ” Sec. 1178(a),(2)(B)(b): “Public Health- Nothing in this part shall be construed to invalidate or limit the authority, power, or procedures established under any law providing for the reporting of disease or injury, child abuse, birth, or death, public health surveillance, or public health investigation or intervention. ”

Jurisdiction Waived Case Reportable deaths to the Medical Examiner’s office under CCP in which jurisdiction is not retained. Reportable deaths to the Medical Examiner’s office under CCP in which jurisdiction is not retained. Natural deaths where a physician will sign the death certificate based on medical history or diagnosis. There is no trauma or foul play suspected in the death. Natural deaths where a physician will sign the death certificate based on medical history or diagnosis. There is no trauma or foul play suspected in the death. The decedent is sent to a funeral home with no further action by the ME office. The decedent is sent to a funeral home with no further action by the ME office. The police are not normally involved. The police are not normally involved.

Police department and crime scene officer involvement Trauma, foul play or suspicious deaths should always be reported to the law enforcement jurisdiction where the incident occurred. Trauma, foul play or suspicious deaths should always be reported to the law enforcement jurisdiction where the incident occurred. Some agencies will respond to the hospital to photograph the decedent and interview witnesses. Some agencies will respond to the hospital to photograph the decedent and interview witnesses. Homicide or gunshot victims should have their hands bagged in paper sacks to preserve evidence. Homicide or gunshot victims should have their hands bagged in paper sacks to preserve evidence. All clothing should be preserved and either turned over to the crime scene officer at the hospital or sent with the body to the ME office All clothing should be preserved and either turned over to the crime scene officer at the hospital or sent with the body to the ME office Property removed by EMS or hospital staff will not be transferred to the ME office. Property removed by EMS or hospital staff will not be transferred to the ME office.

Organ / Tissue Donation Hospitals are required to also report the death to the local organ / tissue procurement group. Hospitals are required to also report the death to the local organ / tissue procurement group. Victims qualify medically and must have family approval. Victims qualify medically and must have family approval. The ME office must be notified of the organ / tissue request as soon as possible. In most cases requests are approved by the pathologist. An exception to the approval would be if the approval could effect pending criminal litigation. The ME office must be notified of the organ / tissue request as soon as possible. In most cases requests are approved by the pathologist. An exception to the approval would be if the approval could effect pending criminal litigation. ME investigators usually respond to the hospital to photograph the decedent prior to the donation and obtain blood/urine samples. ME investigators usually respond to the hospital to photograph the decedent prior to the donation and obtain blood/urine samples.

Case Synopsis: David Gunby 1030 hrs Nurse- I’m calling to report the natural death of a patient due to renal failure. The doctor at the hospital will sign the death certificate. Nurse- I’m calling to report the natural death of a patient due to renal failure. The doctor at the hospital will sign the death certificate. Investigator- How long has this person been on dialysis? Investigator- How long has this person been on dialysis? Nurse- 35 years. Nurse- 35 years. Investigator- What happened 35 years ago to require dialysis? Investigator- What happened 35 years ago to require dialysis? Nurse- Oh, he was shot and lost a kidney. Nurse- Oh, he was shot and lost a kidney. Investigator- Shot where? Investigator- Shot where? Nurse- In his back. Nurse- In his back.

Case Synopsis: David Gunby 1030 hrs Investigator- No, where was he shot as in address or location? Investigator- No, where was he shot as in address or location? Nurse- Oh, in Austin, TX. Nurse- Oh, in Austin, TX. Investigator- (Thinks: year 2001 minus 35 years = Victim shot in back, 1966, in Austin, TX.) Investigator- (Thinks: year 2001 minus 35 years = Victim shot in back, 1966, in Austin, TX.)

On August 1, 1966 Charles Whitman began a shooting spree from the UT Austin tower killing sixteen and wounding thirty-one. One of those wounded was David Gunby. David was one of the first people shot but survived his wound until 2001 when he died in Fort Worth. His death was ruled a Homicide.