Overview of the Coroner’s Office
The Coroner’s Office investigates all sudden and/or unattended deaths throughout the county. Through an investigation, a determination is made as to the cause and the manner of death.
Responsibilities
The Coroner’s Office is responsible for:
- Identification of the deceased
- Notification of a death to the family
- Performing autopsies
- Initiation of the Death Certificates
- Providing Mortuary & Donation Information to help in facilitating final arrangements
- Testifying in civil and criminal proceedings
- Distributing accurate and timely information to family members, health care professionals, insurance companies, and the public through the media and news releases
Deaths Reportable to the Coroner’s Office
- Deaths within 24 hours of admission to a hospital
- Deaths in which a physician is not in attendance or has not been in actual attendance of the decedent within thirty days prior to death
- Deaths that occur in a hospital emergency department
- Traumatic, chemical or violent deaths (homicidal, suicidal, or accidental)
- Deaths occurring in a hospital operating room
- Deaths associated with diagnostic or therapeutic procedures
- Deaths in which the attending physician is unable to certify the cause of death
- Deaths due to unexplained cause or under suspicious circumstances
- Deaths suspected to be due to infectious or contagious disease wherein the diagnosis and extent of disease are undetermined at the time of death
- Any sudden death of a person in apparent good health
- Deaths of individuals who were in the custody of law enforcement officials or who were incarcerated in a public institution
- All newborn infants who die within 24 hours of birth regardless of the duration of life
- Any fetal death due to or as a consequence of criminal abortion
- Every death that occurs outside of a hospital or nursing home
Any death in which there is a question as to whether or not it is a Coroner’s case should be reported.
It should be emphasized that, although a particular death may be “reportable” to the Coroner’s Office, an autopsy may not be necessary, depending upon the circumstances. The Coroner’s Office investigates all sudden and/or unattended deaths throughout the county. Through an investigation, a determination is made as to the cause and the manner of death.
