The Charlotte Observer’s investigation in 2012 provided evidence that all of the duties of medical examiners were not being completed and laws were broken.
Crime Scene Visits
Ninety percent of crime scenes involving suspicious deaths were not visited by medical examiners; this is a key part of the investigative process. Crime scenes provide witnesses and additional evidence that contribute to the investigation into the exact cause of death. Medical examiners can obtain this information from the investigating officers, but the information may be flawed or missing key details that could easily be ascertained by visiting the crime scene themselves.
Check out the Gaston County page for a family’s point of view
Viewing Bodies
It was found that 1 out of 9 bodies were not viewed by medical examiners, which is against the law. Cause of death is accurately determined by external investigation and autopsy. Viewing the body can, for example, show bullet wounds, stab wounds, and ligature marks as well as any injury to organs or blood vessels sustained by the victim which can be used to determine cause of death. For example, not viewing a body of a car crash victim could lead to missed evidence like a stab or gunshot wound turning the accident into foul play.
What can be done?
The actions of medical examiners listed above are unacceptable and were not fixed by the law reform. Fees and the possibility of losing their job needs to be put in place and reinforced by the state and the Chief Medical Examiner.Medical examiners are not meeting the requirements laid out by the state in Article 16 Section 130A. This hinders investigations and harms loved ones in the process. Preventing the medical examiners from picking up their $250 autopsy fee without verification that they visited the scene and viewed the body would provide incentive. A system of verification would ensure basic duties were performed and done correctly increasing the efficiency of the medical examiner system in North Carolina.
Crime Scene Visits
Ninety percent of crime scenes involving suspicious deaths were not visited by medical examiners; this is a key part of the investigative process. Crime scenes provide witnesses and additional evidence that contribute to the investigation into the exact cause of death. Medical examiners can obtain this information from the investigating officers, but the information may be flawed or missing key details that could easily be ascertained by visiting the crime scene themselves.
Check out the Gaston County page for a family’s point of view
Viewing Bodies
It was found that 1 out of 9 bodies were not viewed by medical examiners, which is against the law. Cause of death is accurately determined by external investigation and autopsy. Viewing the body can, for example, show bullet wounds, stab wounds, and ligature marks as well as any injury to organs or blood vessels sustained by the victim which can be used to determine cause of death. For example, not viewing a body of a car crash victim could lead to missed evidence like a stab or gunshot wound turning the accident into foul play.
What can be done?
The actions of medical examiners listed above are unacceptable and were not fixed by the law reform. Fees and the possibility of losing their job needs to be put in place and reinforced by the state and the Chief Medical Examiner.Medical examiners are not meeting the requirements laid out by the state in Article 16 Section 130A. This hinders investigations and harms loved ones in the process. Preventing the medical examiners from picking up their $250 autopsy fee without verification that they visited the scene and viewed the body would provide incentive. A system of verification would ensure basic duties were performed and done correctly increasing the efficiency of the medical examiner system in North Carolina.