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Frequent Questions
Why are investigations necessary?
Investigations allow a collection of facts surrounding all unnatural
or unexplained deaths; these facts aid the medical investigator to
determine the cause and manner of the death. Investigations also aid in the
determination of possible environmental hazards, job safety violations,
consumer product dangers and public health threats.
What happens during an investigation?
The investigation will start at the location of the death. The police will call in specially
trained medical investigators. The investigator will talk to family members, witnesses and
others, work with the police in identifying features of the death, obtain medical
histories and records, and photograph the scene of the death. The investigator
will authorize the removal of the body to a location where an examination
will be conducted.
How are the bodies identified?
Often identification has taken place at the scene of the death. In
cases where individuals remain unidentified, or where identification is
difficult due to the condition of the body, fingerprints, dental
records, and body X-rays are used, in addition to the autopsy evidence, to
identify a person.
How are findings of the investigation made available?
If the cause of death was unclear, or family members had specific
questions, the investigator or pathologist will telephone a family
member as soon as that information is available. This can be following the
autopsy (as in cases of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome SIDS), or
following toxicological or other studies. In all cases, the death
certificate will be signed at the conclusion of the investigation. The
cause of the death and the manner of the death will be on the
certificate. Formal reports are available usually eight to twelve weeks after the
final diagnosis has been made, although some may take longer.
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