Medicolegal Death Investigation System Workshop Summary (2003) / Chapter Skim
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9. Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness
9. Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness
Pages 49-60
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From page 49... ...
Three days later, an Indian Health Service physician reported similar cases to the New Mexico Health Department. A rapid ~nultiagency investigation followed, and it led to the identification by CDC of an emerging infectious clisease, I~antavirus pulmonary syndromes within weeks of recognition of the 49
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From page 50... ...
Since 1919, US forensic pathologists have detected, several emerging diseases, including plague, malaria, and West Nile encephalitis. Overall, infectious disease mortality increased by 58% from 1980 and 1992 (Pinner et al., 1996~.
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Bioterrorism has the potential for causing mass fatalities. Medical examiners are adept at responding to mass disasters; their skill sets having been Lionel through aviation accidents, heat wave deaths, and other large scale catastrophes.
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From page 52... ...
There should be uniform standards are needed for infectiousdisease mortality surveillance; access to routine and advanced microbiologic testing, which is critical for generating organismspecific diagnoses; improved biosafety infrastructure; more funding; and a national strategy for federal agencies to assist with large numbers of infectious-disease fatalities. The Challenge of Terrorism and Mass Disaster Marcelia Fierro Terrorism and mass disasters pose enormous challenges to ME/C systems.
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From page 53... ...
Kennedy. It is in the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, and its primary jurisdiction covers military personnel who die on federal property, military personnel who die abroad (in accordance with the Status of Forces Agreement)
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From page 54... ...
The DNA Registry includes the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory and a specimen repository of DNA specimens from all service ne~nbers. The DNA Registry reflects tile high priority accorded by the military to identifying service members who die in battle.
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They supply portable morgue units, computerized morgue management, and specialized protocols for victim identification and family assistance. If the site qualifies for federal disaster assistance, the federal government pays for DMORT's costs; otherwise, the state pays.
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From page 56... ...
Thus, the forensic pathologists are often not highly experienced in routine forensic pathology. It is likely that the office will survive and even grow, but it leas not been a substantial leader in the field of forensic pathology, as Night be expected considering that it is the federal govern~nent's sole ~neclical examiner office.
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From page 57... ...
Regardless, NIT could and should play a greater role in the support of the law-enforcement aspects of medicolegal death investigations. Substantial funding of the Paul Coverclell National Forensic Sciences Act and the National Forensic Science Improvement Act would help.
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From page 58... ...
Total funding in forensic- pathology research from the federal government may range from zero to tens of thousands of dollars per year, not millions, and virtually no funding goes to support medical examiner offices or demonstration projects in medical examiner offices. Perhaps most important, the federal government seemingly has no interest in forensic pathology or medical examiners.
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From page 59... ...
Medical examiners often lose their jobs over scandals when longstanding poor practices or misunderstood practices are publicized. Investigations of deaths from chilc!
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From page 60... ...
Discussion A priority mandate for NIJ and the federal government is to abolish or replace antiquated coroner investigation systems with medical examiner systems staffed by competent forensic pathologists (Ellen C}lark)
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