1. Autopsy
Chapter 8

2. Deaths to be investigated
violent crime, suicide, or accident
w/in 24 hours of entering hospital, or as a result of surgery
natural death w/ no doctor present or patient not under care of medical facility

3. Deaths to be investigated
occurs in police custody or correctional facility
from communicable disease that may harm public

4. investigation done by medical examiner or coroner
at scene, ME does initial assessment of body
ME - time of death & manner of death
plus, signs of trauma, sexual assault, or a struggle

5. Figure 8-2. There are five possible manners of death.
Manner of Death
Description
Natural
Most common manner of death; body function failure as a result of age, illness, or disease
Accident
Unintentional
Suicide
Victim intentionally takes his or her own life; the cause of death is usually a gunshot, hanging, or poisoning
Homicide
One individual takes the life of another intentionally or through a negligent or reckless act; up to the court to determine whether the death is a murder; in certain circumstances, a person is justified in killing someone else in self-defense
Undetermined
The pathologist is not able to determine the manner of death, even after all internal and external examinations are completed and toxicological tests are evaluated

6. at ME’s office, chemical and physical tests to determine how died

7. History In 29 states, counties have coroner (elected)
If MD, performs autopsy = postmortem examination of body, inc. dissection
If not MD, forensic pathologist does autopsy

8. Coroner (“Crowner”) – 12th century England
- protect people from sheriffs, oversee $ issues, investigate deaths, arrest suspects, decide fate of suspects – need for autopsy
US settlers used this until 1870s

9. In 40 states, counties have ME (MD; also can be forensic pathologist)
ME – autopsy
1st ME – appointed in Mass. 1870s
1st true Medical Examiner system – 1918 NYC
Goal = determine cause and manner of death

10. Both – official reports on cause and manner of death, & time of death