Understanding Death and the Death Investigation System
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Estate Checklist for Trustees and Survivors
LAW OFFICES OF MICHAEL E. GRAHAM 10343 HIGH STREET, SUITE ONE TRUCKEE, CALIFORNIA 96161-0116 TELEPHONE 530.587.1177 P FACSIMILE 530.587.0707 MICHAEL E. GRAHAM † [email protected] ESTATE CHECKLIST FOR TRUSTEES AND SURVIVORS 1. IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE Family and friends may assist immediately after the death with the following: C Take turns answering the door or telephone and keep careful records of all calls. C Provide meals for the first several days. C Arrange for child care if necessary. C Make a list of immediate family, close friends, and employer or business colleagues and notify each by telephone. C Arrange for accommodations for visiting relatives and friends. C Take care of special household needs such as cleaning, lawn care, and maintenance. C Prepare a list of persons to receive acknowledgments of flowers, calls, etc., and send acknowledgments. C Prepare a list of distant persons to be notified by letter and prepare printed notices to be sent to each. 2. INITIAL CONSIDERATIONS A. CORONER’S INQUEST OR AUTOPSY Coroner's Inquest Government Code §27491 requires the coroner to inquire into and determine the cause of all violent or sudden deaths, unattended deaths, deaths resulting from criminal acts, deaths of patients in state hospitals operated by the Department of State Hospitals or the Department of Developmental Services, and deaths due to accident, injury, or other unusual causes. When a death is the result of a circumstance specified in the statute, the body cannot be disturbed or moved from its position or place of death without permission of the coroner or the coroner's appointed deputy. -
Exposing Some Myths About Physician-Assisted Suicide
Exposing Some Myths About Physician-Assisted Suicide Giles R. Scofield, J.D." I wish to express my gratitude to Professor Annette Clark and the students of the Seattle University Law Review for inviting me to participate in this symposium, and to submit my remarks for publica- tion. Although this essay reflects the essence of my remarks, I have taken the liberty of clarifying and expanding upon a few points. I. INTRODUCTION When I was asked to speak at this conference, I was at first hesitant to participate. In fact, I dreaded the prospect of speaking about the legalization of physician-assisted suicide. It's not that I have nothing to say on the issue; like everyone here, I too have something to say about it. Nor have I failed to think about this issue; on the contrary, I've had more than ample opportunity to ponder it. If I've thought about the topic enough to have something to say about it, why would I hesitate accepting this invitation? Why would I dread talking about an issue that has achieved such prominence? Basically, there are two reasons. First, we seem to have lost our ability to speak with one another about issues such as this. Instead of engaging one another in a conversation, we have substituted diatribe for dialogue and discord for discourse. The rhetoric of rights, and the simplistic thinking that such rhetoric creates and sustains, impedes our ability and even our willingness to listen to one another. The "I'm right; you're wrong" mentality that dominates these debates makes it impossible to get a word in edgewise. -
Coroners' Records of Accidental Deaths
Archives ofDisease in Childhood 1991; 66: 1239-1241 1239 Arch Dis Child: first published as 10.1136/adc.66.10.1239 on 1 October 1991. Downloaded from Coroners' records of accidental deaths Sara Levene Abstract the study. The four jurisdictions were Inner This study set out to provide a description of North London, Birmingham, Bedfordshire, the children involved in fatal accidents and to and Ipswich. ascertain which deaths might have been pre- All inquests opened in 1984-8 inclusive were vented and by what means. The records from analysed for children age 0-14. Cases where the a convenience sample of four coroners (juris- verdict was 'accidental death' or 'misadventure' dictions of Inner North London, Birmingham, other than medical accidents were included. In Bedfordshire, and Ipswich) of inquests addition, records where the verdict was 'unlawful opened in 1984-8 on children aged under 15 killing', 'death by natural causes', and 'open killed in accidents were reviewed for informa- verdict' were reviewed and included where tion on the deceased, the accident, and the appropriate. The following information was injuries sustained. Altogether 225 records systematically abstracted, ifavailable: (150 boys, 75 girls) were examined. Accidents * The coroner: jurisdiction, record number. to pedestrians were the commonest cause of * The deceased: name, address, sex, date of death (81 cases), and road safety engineering birth, height and weight, ethnic group. measures were the most likely means by * The family: parent's occupation, family which most fatalities might have been pre- structure. vented. The records frequently omitted * The accident: time, day, and date of information on social circumstances, family accident, accident type. -
Guideline Completion of Death Certificates
Department of Health Center for Health Statistics Guideline Revised – 2/23/17 Title: Completion of Death Certificates Number: CHS D-10 References: RCW 70.58.170 Contact: Daniel O’Neill, Senior Policy Analyst Phone: 360-236-4311 Email: [email protected] Effective Date: February 23, 2017 Approved By: Christie Spice The Department of Health provides this guideline for medical certifiers of death certificates. Medical certifiers include allopathic and osteopathic physicians, physician assistants, advanced registered nurse practitioners, chiropractors, coroners and medical examiners to follow when completing death certificates. The Department receives complaints that health care providers fail to complete death certificates in a timely manner or fail to accurately list the cause of death on the death certificate. The death certificate provides important information about the decedent and the cause of death. Death certification errors are common and range from minor to severe. Under RCW 70.58.170, a funeral director or person having the right to control the disposition of human remains must present the death certificate to the medical certifier last in attendance upon the deceased. The medical certifier then has two business days to certify the cause of death according to his or her best knowledge and sign or electronically approve the certificate, unless there is good cause for not doing so. The medical certifier should register cause and manner of death information through the Washington State Electronic Death Reporting System (EDRS). The EDRS facilitates timely registration of the death and rapid collection of cause and manner of death information. The EDRS can be found at https://fortress.wa.gov/doh/edrs/EDRS/. -
Cause and Manner of Death
Cause and Manner of Death Cause of death is a medical opinion which is expressed in two parts. The first is a description of the condition or conditions which directly led to death. When multiple, they are listed in reverse chronological order. The first condition listed is the immediate cause of death, i.e. the condition which caused the individual to die at that time and in that place. The last condition listed is the proximate (or underlying) cause of death, i.e. the condition which started a chain of events leading to death. In some cases, these are one and the same—for example, “Toxic effects of cocaine”. More commonly, the chain has multiple links. For instance, if an individual suffered brain injury from a fall and, while bedridden and unconscious, developed pneumonia which led to death, his or her cause of death could be listed as, “Pneumonia, due to blunt force head trauma, due to fall.” The second part of the cause of death statement is a list of conditions which did not directly cause death but were contributing factors. For instance, the individual in the example above might have had severe emphysema and, because of this, have been at increased risk of developing pneumonia. Manner of death is a medicolegal determination that groups deaths into categories for public health purposes. It is based upon the proximate cause of death. In the example above, although the immediate cause of death was pneumonia, the proximate cause was a fall. Therefore, the manner of death is accident. An excellent description of the five commonly used manners of death is provided by the National Association of Medical Examiners: “Natural deaths are due solely or nearly totally to disease and/or the aging process. -
Policy and Procedure Manual
Policy and Procedure Manual Clark County Office of the Coroner/Medical Examiner (CCOCME) 1704 Pinto Lane Las Vegas, Nevada The Office of the Clark County Coroner/Medical Examiner was established with jurisdiction coextensive with the boundaries of Clark County, Nevada It shall be the duty of the county coroner to determine the cause of death of any person reported to him as having been killed by violence; has suddenly died under such circumstances as to afford reasonable grounds to suspect or infer that death has been caused or occasioned by the act of another by criminal means; has committed suicide; and to determine the cause of all deaths as to which applicable state law makes it the duty of the coroner to sign certificates of death. As the Southern Nevada community continues to grow, so does the role of the Clark County Office of the Coroner/Medical Examiner. The office has three distinctive division that work well together in an effort to provide support to the other divisions as well as to the public we are called upon to assist. Due to the nature of this most sensitive business, our goal is to provide compassionate service to those that we serve. An obligation rests with each staff member to render honest, efficient, courteous and discrete service on behalf of the office. As an overview of the office, a call is received reporting a death. An investigator is dispatched to the location and conducts an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death. If the case falls under our jurisdiction, the decedent is transported to our office where an autopsy or external examination is conducted to determine the cause and manner of death. -
Coroner Investigations of Suspicious Elder Deaths
The author(s) shown below used Federal funds provided by the U.S. Department of Justice and prepared the following final report: Document Title: Coroner Investigations of Suspicious Elder Deaths Author: Laura Mosqueda, M.D., Aileen Wiglesworth, Ph.D. Document No.: 239923 Date Received: October 2012 Award Number: 2008-MU-MU-0021 This report has not been published by the U.S. Department of Justice. To provide better customer service, NCJRS has made this Federally- funded grant final report available electronically in addition to traditional paper copies. Opinions or points of view expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice. This document is a research report submitted to the U.S. Department of Justice. This report has not been published by the Department. Opinions or points of view expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Laura Mosqueda, M.D. INSTITUTION: The Regents of the University of California, UC, Irvine, School of Medicine, Program in Geriatrics GRANT NUMBER: 2008-MU-MU-0021 TITLE OF PROJECT: Coroner Investigations of Suspicious Elder Deaths AUTHOR: Aileen Wiglesworth, PhD DATE: July 1, 2012 Project Description When an older American dies due to abuse or neglect, not only has a tragedy occurred, but a particularly heinous crime may have been committed. Because disease and death are more likely as adults grow older, those who investigate suspicious deaths have a particular challenge when it comes to deciding which elder deaths to scrutinize. -
Inquests – a Factsheet for Families
INQUESTS – A FACTSHEET FOR FAMILIES This is a brief introduction as to what to expect at an Inquest and designed to give an overview about the purpose and process of a Coroner's Inquest. More detailed information is available from the Ministry of Justice Guide to Coroner Services. The law in this area can be complex - if you believe that a person's death was someone's fault (after an accident, or treatment which has gone wrong) then you should take specialist legal advice. Each Inquest is different, and practice and procedure vary between Coroners in different parts of the Country. Coroners are legally qualified (Solicitors or Barristers) and some are also medically qualified. They appoint Assistant Coroners to help them. What is an Inquest? An Inquest is an investigation into a death which appears to be due to unknown, violent or unnatural causes, designed to find out who the deceased was, and where, when and how (meaning by what means). In some inquests, for example where the person has died whilst in custody or state detention, the scope of the inquest can be widened to include the broader circumstances leading to the death – but the Coroner decides on the scope of the inquest. The "how" question is usually the most difficult. Coroners are responsible for making enquiries where the cause is unknown and the investigations are done on their behalf by a Coroner’s Officer. It is different to other Courts because there are no formal allegations or accusations and no power to blame anyone directly for the death. -
Imagereal Capture
F.W. Guest Memorial Lecture: July 12th, 2007 Death Investigation and the Evolving Role of the Coroner Ian Freckelton SC* Grief is a journey, often perilous and without clear direction, that must be taken. The experience of grieving cannot be ordered or categorized, hurried or controlled, pushed aside or ignored indefiizttely. It is inevitable as breathing, as change, as love. It may be postponed, but it will not be denied.' Death is a subject which has long inspired extraordinary art, music and literature. Currently, in one form or another, it dominates our television screens and our cinematic experiences. It continues to preoccupy, fascinate, confront, repel and terrify us. Contemporary necrographers, sociologists of death and scholars on palliative care have highlighted the extent to which in the aftermath of the two World Wars and in the era of institutionalisation and medicalisation of death we have a different, more removed relationship with our ancient foe - western communities are alienated from death like no previous civili~ation.~But that does not detract from the reality of grieving, bereavement and the need to try to learn how in future to prevent preventable deaths. These responses to the phenomenon of death and its appurtenances play an important role in the dynamics that generate our perceived needs for investigation of deaths which are sudden, unexplained or otherwise not readily accountable. We need to understand the causes of such deaths; to set the public record straight about them; to take criminal and civil action against malefactors, where appropriate; to learn the lessons that are to be learned from tragedies; and to avoid avoidable death^.^ Traditionally, our principal means to these various ends has been the institution of the coroner. -
We, at the Lexington County Coroner's Office, Extend Our Deepest
We, at the Lexington County Coroner’s Office, extend our deepest sympathy to you during this difficult time. We hope that this information will assist you by providing answers to commonly asked questions. Q. WHY IS THE CORONER INVOLVED? A. State law requires the Coroner to inquire into and determine the circumstances, manner, and cause of all sudden, violent, or unusual deaths and those deaths where the decedent has passed within 24 hours of admission to the hospital. The deceased may be taken to the Coroner’s morgue facility and examined by a pathologist to determine the cause of death. A death certificate is issued after the examination is completed. Occasionally, more extensive testing is required, in which case an interim or “pending” death certificate is issued, which will allow the family to make funeral arrangements. An amendment will be issued to accompany the death certificate following completion of special testing. Q. WHAT SHOULD I DO NOW? A. Select a funeral home and inform the funeral director that the death is being handled by the Coroner. Ask them to please notify us that they will be handling the arrangements. Our office does not select funeral homes nor do we make arrangements. In the event someone is making the arrangements for the family, the Coroner must be provided written authorization to release the deceased, signed by the legal next of kin. Should he/she reside at a distant location, they may send a FAX directly to the Coroner’s Office. The following format should be used: CORONER, LEXINGTON COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA RELEASE THE REMAINS OF MY (relationship and name of decedent, Coroner case #) TO (name of funeral director selected). -
Coroner's Inquests
Coroner’s Inquests Overview The coroner is an independent judicial officer who investigates deaths in England and Wales which may be due to violent or unnatural causes, where the cause is unknown, or when an inquiry is needed for some other reason, for example if the death occurred in prison. Where necessary the coroner can hold a public hearing in court, known as an inquest. This seeks to establish who the deceased was, and when, where and how they came by their death. Inquests are fact-finding hearings and the coroner determines the evidence to be heard and which witnesses to call. The coroner can designate any witness as an interested person (IP), a specific legal status which gives rights such as to be legally represented at the hearing, to ask questions of other witnesses and to obtain disclosure of documents. Essentially, an IP will play a more active role in the inquest proceedings, as opposed to a factual witness. The coroner may grant the status of an IP to an individual or organisation because of a concern that an act or omission by that individual or organisation may have contributed to the death. The coroner cannot blame individuals, or determine civil or criminal liability for a death, but they can be critical of individuals involved and standards of care. Being criticised by a coroner would necessitate self-referral to the General Medical Council (GMC) or General Dental Council (GDC) as appropriate. Basic considerations Before an inquest You may be asked to provide a written report about your involvement in a patient’s care, or the care provided by an organisation or department where you worked. -
Critical Corpse Studies: Engaging with Corporeality and Mortality in Curriculum
Taboo: The Journal of Culture and Education Volume 19 Issue 3 The Affect of Waste and the Project of Article 10 Value: April 2020 Critical Corpse Studies: Engaging with Corporeality and Mortality in Curriculum Mark Helmsing George Mason University, [email protected] Cathryn van Kessel University of Alberta, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/taboo Recommended Citation Helmsing, M., & van Kessel, C. (2020). Critical Corpse Studies: Engaging with Corporeality and Mortality in Curriculum. Taboo: The Journal of Culture and Education, 19 (3). Retrieved from https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/taboo/vol19/iss3/10 This Article is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by Digital Scholarship@UNLV with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Article in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s) directly, unless additional rights are indicated by a Creative Commons license in the record and/ or on the work itself. This Article has been accepted for inclusion in Taboo: The Journal of Culture and Education by an authorized administrator of Digital Scholarship@UNLV. For more information, please contact [email protected]. 140 CriticalTaboo, Late Corpse Spring Studies 2020 Critical Corpse Studies Engaging with Corporeality and Mortality in Curriculum Mark Helmsing & Cathryn van Kessel Abstract This article focuses on the pedagogical questions we might consider when teaching with and about corpses. Whereas much recent posthumanist writing in educational research takes up the Deleuzian question “what can a body do?,” this article investigates what a dead body can do for students’ encounters with life and death across the curriculum.