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Medicolegal Death Investigation System Workshop Summary (2003) / Chapter Skim
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2. Opening Remarks
Pages 3-6

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From page 3...
... Official death investigations are reportedly opened in about 20% of annual deaths in the United States. The scope of the investigations, although somewhat variable, generally includes investigation of the scene of the death, collection of evidence, external examination of the body, an autopsy, tests of body tissues or fluids, and the completion of a death certificate that certifies the cause of death.
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From page 4...
... In 192S, the National Research Council s Committee on Medical Legal Problems issued its report, The Coroner and the Medical Examiner (1928~. The committee was Inane up of titans of the American legal and meclical establishment of that era, including Roscoe Pound, dean of Harvard Law School, ant!
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From page 5...
... By taking such steps, the committee concluded, "the legal system would be better able to utilize the developing scientific knowledge and the information that all of scientific medicine is in the position to furnish to the forces of justice." The vision of professionalism and affiliation with medical schools and universities was further developed in another special report 4 years later (1932~. In 1932, a National Research Council co~n~nittee reviewed medico-legal institutes that had been formed, especially in Europe.
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From page 6...
... The topics covered in this workshop are related to how a modern, professional, scientific system of medicolegal death investigation can diversify its role and increase its utility in connection with public health and surveillance. Examples include serving as a sentinel for unusual deaths, serving as a too} for quality improvement in tile health care system, and, of course, dealing with the gravest contemporary concerns: bioterrorism and mass disasters.
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Key Terms

  • medical examiner
  • medical examiners
  • medicolegal death
  • law school
  • developing scientific

  • investigations vary
  • taking stock
  • medical legal
  • properly equipped
  • unusual deaths

  • identifying priorities
  • roscoe pound
  • progress report
  • harvard law
  • scientific medicine

  • quality improvement
  • health importance
  • examples include
  • reduce errors
  • involving nonfatal

  • death investigation
  • little risk
  • nonfatal injuries
  • county level
  • mass disasters

  • encompassing half
  • additionally suspicious
  • affiliated institutes
  • medical schools
  • continuous concern


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