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Frequent Questions
What are your business hours?
Do I make complaints to your office about a doctor I am having
trouble with?
What is an autopsy?
When will an autopsy be necessary?
How long does an autopsy take?
Does the family pay for any medical investigator services?
What if objections to the autopsies are raised?
Are tests for drugs and alcohol performed?
Can a medical investigator case still be an organ or tissue donor?
What if no one claims the body?
When will the body be released?
How can a family have the body released directly to them?
Can we view the body? Do I have to ID my loved one's body?
What happens to the clothing and personal items?
Does the Office of the Medical Investigator ever keep parts of the body?
Are there grief-counseling services available?
What kinds of reports are produced?
How soon are reports available?
Who can get copies of the reports?
How is the death certificate obtained?
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What are your business hours?
The Office of the Medical Investigator administration is open 8 am to 5 pm Monday
through Friday. Parking is limited and permits are required, please inquire when you arrive.
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Do I make complaints to your office about a doctor I am having trouble with?
No. The New Mexico Medical Board is responsible for complaints regarding family physcians,
please visit their website:http://www.nmmb.state.nm.us/.
If you have a complaint about our staff please feel free to contact us at 505-272-3053.
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What is an autopsy?
An autopsy is a dignified surgical procedure, which provides a systematic examination
of the body of a deceased person by a qualified physician. The body is inspected
for the presence of disease or injury, and minimal specimens of the vital organs
and/or body fluids may be taken for toxicological and other analysis. The internal
organs and the brain will be examined, then replaced in the body for burial.
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When will an autopsy be necessary?
In about one third of the cases investigated by the Medical Investigator an autopsy
will be required. The primary concern is to determine whether death resulted from
disease, from injury, or from a combination of disease and injury. When death results
from physical injuries, the autopsy frequently provides a means to reconstruct the
fatal episode. The autopsy also serves to provide information in the case of unidentified
persons. To see a detailed list please see: Reportable
Deaths
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Does the family pay for any medical investigator services?
For cases that fall under OMI jursidiction (please see: Reportable
Deaths), families pay nothing for Medical Investigator services or for the transportation
to Albuquerque for autopsy. This also includes grief services. Families may be billed
for the transportation to the funeral home they select. Consultation Autopsies can also be requested
at the expense of the requestor, for more information please see:
Consult Autopsy
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How long does an autopsy take?
A standard forensic autopsy will take two to three hours. Complicated medical cases
or cases of traumatic deaths with multiple injuries can take longer in order to
fully document all observations. All autopsies in New Mexico are done at the Medical
Investigator facility at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine in Albuquerque.
The time involved in transporting cases to and from Albuquerque must be considered
when funeral services are planned.
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What if objections to the autopsies are raised?
When family members object to an autopsy based upon religious, cultural or other
beliefs, every effort to honor that objection will be made. However, if the public
responsibility cannot be fulfilled without performing the autopsy, the family will
be provided an opportunity to be represented by legal counsel and to have their
objection presented to a judge before the autopsy is performed, whenever possible.
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Are tests for drugs and alcohol performed?
In all cases investigated by the Medical Investigator, including those where autopsies
are not conducted, fluids are taken for toxicological tests. The results of the
tests are often important factors in being able to determine a cause and manner
of the death, and in providing motives and explanation for behaviors. In New Mexico,
these tests are performed at the State Laboratory in Albuquerque, as well as other contracted
laboratories.
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Can a medical investigator case still be an organ or tissue donor?
Yes. Once family members have expressed interest, the Lions Eye Bank and New Mexico
Donor Program coordinators work closely with the Medical Investigator, and will
review the appropriateness of the organ harvest with the Medical Investigator before
allowing family members to formally consent to the donation. Procedures to obtain
organs and tissues are done within hospital operating rooms, and not at the Medical
Investigator's office. Being the victim of a homicide or other traumatic death does
not preclude being a donor. All cases for organ donation require family consent.
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What if no one claims the body?
The law provides for burial or cremation when no relative claims the body. These
matters are handled through the county finance office in the county where the individual
resided or if the residence is unknown, the county where the death occurred.
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When will the body be released?
Once the examination is complete, and a family has designated an arrangement for
burial or cremation, the body will be released. This is usually to a mortuary or
cremation service, but can be directly released to the family. Family members must
instruct the funeral home to call the Office of the Medical Investigator for release
of the body.
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How can a family have the body released directly to them?
In New Mexico, family members can transport deceased family members and can conduct
burials on private lands. Refrigeration, embalming or burial must take place within
24 hours of death, and restrictions exist on where burials may take place. The Office
of the Medical Investigator can assist with these questions.
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Can we view the body? Do I have to ID my loved one's body?
No. The OMI building does not have facilities to view bodies. Please contact the
funeral home if you wish to view the body. If identification is required, or if
your loved one is missing please contact Investigations at 505-272-0711.
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What happens to the clothing and personal items?
All clothing and personal items held by the Office of the Medical Investigator will
be released with the body to the funeral home or crematory, unless it is identified
as evidence. Any item identified as evidence will be turned over to the investigating
law enforcement agency. For questions regarding these items please contact Investigations
at 505-272-0711.
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Does the Office of the Medical Investigator ever keep parts of the body?
In certain instances, the Office of the Medical Investigator may retain varying
amounts of tissue including whole organs after the body has been released if the
tissue is needed for diagnostic purposes.
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Are there grief-counseling services available?
Licensed therapists are available to support you and your family at no charge. The
Grief Services program of the Office of the Medical
Investigator can provide short-term counseling and referral to on-going peer support
groups or longer-term counseling.
A SPECIAL MESSAGE TO FAMILY MEMBERS
The Office of the Medical Investigator is required by law to be involved in the
investigations described above. It is important that you realize our agency has
made its own commitment to you to assist in whatever way we can during the difficult
times that will follow the death of a loved one. Our primary mission is to provide
you with accurate and timely information about the condition of the death, in order
that you can understand what happened and share it with other family members and
friends. Our commitment to you has led to the creation of special grief counseling
services. Licensed clinicians are available to talk to you, particularly if the
death has been a child. You can access grief-counseling services through our regular
number 505-925-9501.
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What kinds of reports are produced?
The Office of the Medical Investigator produces three reports: the autopsy report
(or external examination report), the report of findings, and the toxicology report.
Although the Medical Investigator signs the death certificate, the document is finalized
and distributed through the New Mexico Vital Records and Health Statistics.
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How soon are reports available?
The report of finding is a one-page report that contains the information listed
on the death certificate. It is normally available 10 working days after the death
certificate is released to the funeral home. The autopsy and toxicology reports
may take up to 12 weeks before being released. However, every case is unique and
it may take longer to complete the necessary reports. To request reports please
see: Request Reports
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Who can get copies of the reports?
Documents are provided to law enforcement, the district attorney, special government
agencies, and the hospital providing treatment at the time of death. A copy of the
autopsy report, report of findings, and toxicology reports will be provided at no
cost to the next of kin upon request. For specific information on fees for reports
see: Request Reports.
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How is the death certificate obtained?
The death certificate is filed with the New Mexico Vital Records and Health Statistics
office by the funeral home or crematory handling the arrangements. Usually the funeral
home or crematory will provide copies, however copies of the death certificates
can be obtained by the next of kin for a non-refundable fee by contacting:
The New Mexico Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics
P. O. Box 26110
Santa Fe, NM 87502
Phone Number: 505-827-0121
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