Why We Need Independent Coroners “Sensitive cases, such as police shootings and police-encounter deaths, jail and prison deaths, deaths in public institutions, and others, require an unbiased death investigation that is clearly independent of law enforcement.” So read a conclusion in the National Research Council’s 2009 report on Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States….
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The Role of the Coroner in Court: Part 1
Observing the role of a coroner in court during a trial is a great way to learn about medicolegal death investigation. Coroners are responsible for critical evidence that often ends up at a murder or drug delivery resulting in death trial. Whatever the staff of the coroner’s office sees, hears, smells, photographs, or does—from the…
Lethal Hypothermia
It was my first day on the Colorado doctor’s ski patrol and lethal hypothermia was the last thing on my mind as I floated down a perfect powder run. “Code blue, bottom of Rabbit Run,” said a voice on my radio. “Code blue; doc we need you now.” A skier lay unconscious, not breathing, no…