A coroner is an ancient profession that has existed since the 1100s, whereas a medical examiner is a newer profession first introduced in the USA in 1877. While they may at first appear to have similar roles, they are, in fact, very different from each other.
In this article, we’ll examine in detail the differences between a coroner and a medical examiner and the roles and responsibilities each has in their respective positions.
What Is a Coroner?
Coroners have existed in Great Britain since the 1100s. Their name is derived from “Crowner” since they ensured that any taxes owed were still paid to the crown when someone died.
Modern coroners no longer deal with crown taxes, but they do look into the cause of death and are sometimes the ones to complete death certificates. They’re usually responsible for ensuring the correct identity of the body, notifying the next of kin, and ensuring the deceased’s belongings are returned to their families.
Depending on local state laws, coroners are usually elected or sometimes appointed laypersons who may or may not have any medical training. They may even have dual jobs, playing law enforcement roles or as a prosecuting attorney.
Since they typically do not have training in pathology, they often contract the services of a medical examiner or forensic pathologist to perform autopsies and gain medical diagnostics into the cause of death so that they can complete their investigation.
What Is a Medical Examiner?
A medical examiner, or M.E. for short, is always a trained physician, usually with special training as a forensic pathologist. Thus, they offer a more streamlined approach without the need to contract out the services of forensic pathologists or other specialists since they can perform all the necessary functions themselves.
M.E.s typically perform any death investigation that’s not deemed as being from natural causes since those are usually handled by the attending doctor, who can sign the death certificate. When the death isn’t considered natural or is under investigation to determine the cause, the M.E. will be called upon to complete an autopsy.
Autopsies include external examinations, physical dissection, and internal examinations, taking numerous digital X-rays, performing toxicological analysis, and interpreting laboratory results. They also collect and document all of the evidence they obtain during the course of their investigations and are often called into courts to provide expert testimony in the case of unlawful death or for insurance investigations.
Another thing that M.E.s may be required to do is obtain blood, urine, and other biological specimens from living people in cases where driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, drug-facilitated crimes like sexual assault or homicides, and other case-specific circumstances. The M.E. also may need to present this information as further expert testimony in court when necessary.
Differences Between Coroners and Medical Examiners
Training
Coroners usually have no medical training and must contract out forensic pathologists or M.E.s to have them help perform their investigations. On the other hand, medical examiners must be fully trained and licensed medical doctors, usually with expert training in death investigations as forensic pathologists.
Appointed vs. Elected
A coroner is typically elected to their position because they need to have the confidence of the community that they work in. They may be appointed to their position, but that’s the exception rather than the rule.
M.E.s are usually only appointed since they must be licensed physicians, often forensic pathologists, and are certified by the American Board of Pathology with a specialty in forensic pathology. Therefore, they’re appointed based on their qualifications and certifications, which gives the community confidence without needing to be elected.
Types of Death Investigations Handled
Coroners are typically responsible for handling a wide range of deaths in their jurisdiction since they also notify families and ensure the deceased belongings are returned to them. This is true even in the case of natural causes signed off by a medical doctor where no investigation is required.
Medical examiners are required to investigate any death that is accidental, a result of suicide or homicide, from contagious diseases, or in other case-specific circumstances. M.E.s are rarely called in to investigate where the cause was deemed natural.
Field Work and Overseeing vs. Performing Investigations
Coroners typically do fieldwork in death investigations since they often also work in law enforcement as police officers, sheriffs, or prosecuting attorneys. They also oversee the entire process while contracting out work to forensic pathologists and other professionals as needed.
On the other hand, M.E.s only perform the medical part of death investigations to determine the cause of demise when not deemed natural. They rarely do field work and are primarily responsible for performing autopsies and toxicology, interpreting results, and offering expert testimony. They leave the legal part of the investigation to law enforcement.
Different Equipment
Since they perform very different jobs, coroners and medical examiners have different tools. A coroner is more of a field investigator and liaison, so they require computers, communication devices, and other technology to aid them in their investigation and communication with families, suspects, and specialists.
An M.E. is responsible for performing the autopsy, so they require autopsy tables, storage, autopsy tools, toxicology diagnostic equipment, digital X-ray machines for morgues, computers, and other technology to facilitate the interpretation and communication of their results.
Final Thoughts
A coroner is responsible for investigating a wide range of deaths, but they typically are more involved with law enforcement and only sometimes have medical training themselves. They’re more responsible for overseeing an investigation, contracting out professionals, notifying next of kin, and ensuring the deceased’s belongings are returned to the family.
Medical examiners, on the other hand, are directly responsible for performing autopsies, including physical dissection, toxicology, and digital x-rays, to help determine the cause of demise when it is not deemed natural.
