Those who work with the living may find their jobs difficult and exhausting at the end of the day, and those who work with the dead are no exception. A medical examiner is a person who performs tests and procedures on the deceased, usually at the request of legal authorities. Medical examiner positions can be found in hospitals, private offices, labs, and other settings.
A medical examiner, also known as a coroner, is a person who is appointed to perform after-death services such as autopsies and the examination of bodily tissue, blood, teeth, or other materials in order to determine the cause of death and, if it was a natural death, the extent of disease damage. Medical examiner jobs typically require a master’s degree, as well as additional pathology and legal training. The majority of medical examiner jobs require at least eight years of education, though the overall requirements for medical examiner jobs vary by location.
Jobs as a medical examiner may be available with the federal government, the state, or local governments such as cities and counties. County medical examiner jobs entail working on cases within the jurisdiction of the medical examiner. Jobs as a city medical examiner may be similar. A state medical examiner can work on any case within his or her state, and is frequently called to jurisdictions that lack their own medical examiners. Medical examiners employed by the federal government may be assigned to cases involving high-profile individuals or other sensitive information.
While the majority of medical examiners work in hospitals or private practice offices, some people with medical examiner degrees may not want to work in the field. Medical examiner office jobs are available for those who are unable or unwilling to perform the duties of their profession. The majority of medical examiner office jobs entail clerical work or the investigation of less serious issues. Medical examiner assistant jobs are also available, particularly in areas where there is a chief medical examiner and many others working as medical examiner assistants beneath him or her. Assistant medical examiners perform the same duties as regular medical examiners and may be called upon to assist the chief medical examiner with his or her investigation in some cases.