What to know
A medicolegal investigation is conducted by a coroner’s or medical examiner’s office to determine how someone died. Each state sets its own standards for what kinds of deaths require investigation. These are the laws for the District of Columbia.
Medicolegal Death Investigation System
Is medical death investigation system centralized, county-based, or district-based?
Centralized. D.C. Code § 5-1402.
If centralized, in which department or agency is the system housed?
Executive Branch. D.C. Code § 5-1402.
Does the state system have a coroner, medical examiner, or coroners and medical examiners?
Medical examiner. D.C. Code § 5-1402.
"In practice" notes?
None.
Is there a state medical examiner?
Yes. D.C. Code § 5-1402.
If so, what is the state medical examiner's role?
(a) Investigate, in the public interest, those types of deaths enumerated in D.C. Code, 2001 Ed. § 5-1405(b), which includes the following:
(1) All known or suspected unnatural deaths;
(2) All deaths occurring without medical attention within a period of ten (10) days prior to death;
(3) All deaths occurring within twenty four (24) hours of hospital admission; and
(b) Determine with reasonable medical certainty the cause and the circumstances surrounding each death required to be investigated.
D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 22-B, § 2401.
(a) The CME shall be responsible for all the medical functions formerly performed by the coroner in the District of Columbia consistent with the provisions of this chapter. The CME and such other medical examiners as may be appointed may administer oaths and affirmations and take affidavits in connection with the performance of their duties.
(b) The CME, other medical examiners, medicolegal investigators and toxicologists as he or she may appoint, may be authorized by the CME to teach medical and law school classes, to conduct special classes for law enforcement personnel and to engage in other activities related to their work.
(c) The CME shall inform the Registrar of Vital Records of all deaths of children 18 years of age or younger as soon as practicable, but in any event within 5 business days.
(d) The CME, or his or her designee, shall attend all reviews of child deaths by the Child Fatality Review Committee. The CME shall coordinate with the Child Fatality Review Committee in its investigations of child deaths.
D.C. Code § 5-1404.
In what department or agency is the state medical examiner's office located?
Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. D.C. Code § 5-1402.
Are there deputies?
The CME shall appoint a Deputy CME and any other medical examiners the CME finds necessary to carry out the duties of the OCME. D.C. Code § 5-1402.
If so, what are the deputies' roles?
[T]o carry out the duties of the OCME . . . D.C. Code § 5-1402.
What are the qualifications for deputies?
The . . . Deputy CME, and any medical examiners appointed . . . shall be physicians licensed to practice medicine in the District of Columbia . . . the Deputy CME, and any medical examiners appointed after October 19, 2000, shall be certified in forensic pathology by the American Board of Pathology or be eligible for such certification. D.C. Code § 5-1402.
Qualifications, Term of Office, and Training
Is the coroner or medical examiner position elected?
No. D.C. Code § 5-1402.
If so, how many years is the term of office?
Not applicable.
What are the qualifications specified by law?
The CME, the Deputy CME, and any medical examiners appointed . . . shall be physicians licensed to practice medicine in the District of Columbia . . . the CME, the Deputy CME, and any medical examiners appointed after October 19, 2000, shall be certified in forensic pathology by the American Board of Pathology or be eligible for such certification. D.C. Code § 5-1402.
Investigations/Autopsies
What types of deaths are required to be investigated?
The Chief Medical Examiner shall investigate those types of deaths enumerated in D.C. Official Code § 5-1405(b)(2001), which includes the following:
(a) All known or suspected unnatural deaths;
(b) All deaths occurring without medical attention within a period of ten (10) days prior to death;
(c) All deaths occurring within twenty four (24) hours of hospital admission.
D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 28, § 5001.
Pursuant to regulations established by the Mayor, the following types of human deaths occurring in the District of Columbia shall be investigated by the OCME:
(1) Violent deaths, whether apparently homicidal, suicidal or accidental including deaths due to thermal, chemical, electrical or radiation injury and deaths due to criminal abortion, whether apparently self-induced or not;
(2) Sudden, unexpected or unexplained deaths not caused by readily recognizable disease, including sudden infant deaths or apparent sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) for infants one year of age and younger;
(3) Deaths under suspicious circumstances;
(4) Deaths of persons whose bodies are to be cremated, dissected, buried at sea or otherwise disposed of so as to be thereafter unavailable for examination;
(5) Deaths related to disease resulting from employment or on-the-job injury or illness;
(6) Deaths related to disease which might constitute a threat to public health;
(7) Deaths of persons who are wards of the District of Columbia government;
(8) Deaths related to medical or surgical intervention, including operative, peri-operative, anesthesia, medication reactions or deaths associated with diagnostic or therapeutic procedures;
(9) Deaths of persons while in legal custody of the District;
(10) Fetal deaths related to maternal trauma including substance abuse, and extra-mural deliveries;
(11) Deaths for which the Metropolitan Police Department, or other law enforcement agency, or the United States Attorney's Office requests, or a court orders investigation; and
(12) Dead bodies brought within the District of Columbia without proper medical certification.
D.C. Code § 5-1405.
What types of deaths are required to be autopsied?
If, in the opinion of the CME, or the United States Attorney, further investigation as to the cause or manner of death is required or the public interest so requires, a medical examiner shall either perform, or the CME shall arrange for a qualified pathologist to perform, an autopsy on the body of the decedent . . . D.C. Code § 5-1409.
Does the state require that pathologists perform the autopsies?
Yes, a medical examiner shall either perform, or the CME shall arrange for a qualified pathologist to perform, an autopsy on the body of the decedent . . . D.C. Code § 5-1409.