1. Medical Examiner v. Coroner Systems

2. Coroner System Brought to the United States from Great Britain where it had enjoyed some 500 years of relative success.  It was originally in all 13 colonies. In Great Britain, the coroner was appointed to that office by the king. Functioned -to guard the right of the crown at the death of one of the king's subjects. The coroner would verify that a death had occurred and would determine the portion of the estate that belonged to the crown and lay claim to it.

3. Coroner System cont. When first established, it was a position of high honor and much esteem but as time passed it became viewed with more contempt due to the greed that had developed. It was a position at risk to corruption. It continued in the US until the early 1900's when it became outmoded. Coroners still exist in the US and have professional organizations for continuing education.

4. Problems with Coroner System The Americans, unlike the British, elected their coroners. The elected coroner did not have to be medically trained. His main role was to establish manner of death (i.e., Homicide, Suicide, Accidental. Natural). Autopsy rate may be low.

5. Medical Examiner System One of the first states to use the ME system was Massachusetts in the 1800' s. It was a modified version of the coroner's system. Many states now use the ME system.  In California, it is called the "Chief ME-Coroner" office.  In Kansas, there is a coroner's office but the coroner must be medically qualified. The medical examiner is appointed by a governing body. ME is usually a trained pathologist authorized to investigate deaths and determine both cause and manner.

6. ME System Function -to investigate any death that can not be certified by an attending physician.  The ME must certify the cause and manner of death on all sudden, accidental, suicide, undetermined deaths, and unidentified bodies before the body can be released for burial or cremation.  If the external examination of the body does not reveal cause and manner of death, or suspicion is raised by the examination, law enforcement is notdred, and an autopsy is performed.  Autopsy rates vary from murders only in many areas to 100% in San Francisco.

7. ME System Professional organizations exist at national, regional, and state levels to provide continuing education and training:  Board Certification (American Board of Forensic Pathology)  American Academy of Forensic Sciences (Journal of Forensic Sciences)  National Association of Medical Examiners