“A medical examiner’s job and a coroner’s job is not to decide the case, it is to decide the cause and the manner of death,” says Scott Schmidt. The manner of death is reported as a homicide. This will give you the benefit of knowing how and why your family member died. “Dr. Demand Senior Justice. No. office, also referred to as the coroner’s office, is usually a county-run public office. | This is done at the expense of the Medical Examiner’s office. Because a medical examiner's job is based on … If the death was accidental, the death certificate will be the key piece of evidence in a potential wrongful death lawsuit. A medical examiner is a licensed physician who specializes in forensic pathology. will likely request an autopsy. If you allow the autopsy to go forward, you will eventually receive a long form death certificate which lists your loved one’s cause(s) of death. Prude's autopsy was performed at the Monroe County Medical Examiner’s Office. This document is public and available to anyone who requests it. In fact, most family members only want to learn the results of the autopsy, not the specifics of the autopsy act. Although they form an important part of a law enforcement team, they do not necessarily decide the course of an investigation or prosecution of a suspect. will likely request an autopsy. DATE AND HOUR OF AUTOPSY: 5-26-20; 9:25 a.m. PATHOLOGIST: Andrew M. Baker, M.D. If you have further questions on whether or not to allow an autopsy, or questions on a potential wrongful death civil claim, contact our experienced wrongful death attorneys today to learn more about your rights. “The cause of death in this case were complications of asphyxia in the setting of physical restraint. Even if the person is 90 years old with a major heart condition, if the death was due to an accident, like a fall, the M.E. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcome. The overwhelming majority of civilian deaths do not receive any attention from the M.E. California Consumer Do Not Sell My Personal Information, The president of the New York State Association of County Coroners and Medical Examiners discusses Daniel Prude's autopsy, He says when he sees the word homicide, it just means the death of a person at the hands of another, and that homicide may or may not be illegal, Scott Schmidt says Prude’s medical history may have played a role in the report's final determination. This is no easy decision, so it is important that you gather as much information as possible and weigh the pros and cons of a medical examiner autopsy.