A Medical Examiner (ME) is a doctor who examines the bodies of people who have died in suspicious or violent circumstances in order to determine how and why they died. Though the specific training and licensure requirements for this position vary by jurisdiction, many places require MEs to have pathology experience, a working knowledge of the law, and local board licensure. An ME’s responsibilities, work system, and training are distinct from those of a coroner, despite the fact that the two positions are frequently confused.
A Medical Examiner’s Job Description
Many MEs have completed forensic pathology training, which entails examining people’s tissues, organs, bodily fluids, and cells to determine how or why they died. Even if the cause appears obvious, such as a bullet wound to the head, all the data must be evaluated before the cause of death can be determined. The ME will be called to the crime scene as soon as possible to investigate the body before it is moved. When he or she sees the body in context with the crime, he or she is more likely to notice details that would otherwise go unnoticed in a lab. A medical examiner may assist in rape examinations, blood analyses, DNA evidence analyses, and examinations of a person to document injuries in cases of violent crimes that did not result in death.
A medical examiner may be called to testify in court about his or her findings in addition to performing or overseeing the examination of the body. This can include giving testimony about the cause of death or injury, establishing DNA evidence, or refuting another expert’s testimony. MEs assist in the compilation of reports about trends in deaths or crime that they draw from their examinations, in addition to their legal responsibilities. These are used in medical and demographic studies on a local and national level.
Requirements for Education
The level of specialization and training required to become a medical examiner varies depending on the jurisdiction. Most places require a medical degree, with some requiring a pathology background specifically. In other places, any medical degree is accepted, from dermatology to obstetrics. To become a ME in some places, a person may need to attend law school, but many MEs take law-related classes even if they aren’t required for licensing in order to improve their skills. Prospective MEs typically shadow a working examiner during their education to gain a better understanding of the job, and then begin working independently in a hospital or clinic after graduating and passing any necessary licensing exams.
When compared to a Coroner’s office,
MEs and coroners are usually employed in different ways, have different training, and have different main responsibilities. An ME is almost always appointed, but a coroner is elected and may or may not have any medical training. There is a system in place in some areas where one ME oversees a network of doctors who volunteer their time to perform autopsies and examinations, but there isn’t one in place for coroners. Unlike a ME, a coroner can usually summon a court to determine the cause of death, can hold people in contempt of court, and can frequently arrest those they suspect of murder. When a coroner-ME system is used, the coroner will frequently call on a ME to examine bodies and testify about his or her findings.