Are autopsy reports public record in Massachusetts?
Are autopsy reports public record in Massachusetts?
By law, autopsy results are not available for public inspection in Massachusetts. They are available only to those legally entitled to receive them (Mass.
What’s the difference between a coroner and a medical examiner?
Modern coroners inquire into the cause and manner of a death, and often complete the death certificate. Medical Examiners are generally not elected, but appointed to their positions, and are always physicians, usually forensic pathologists, who have specialized training in death investigation.
Does Ma require an autopsy?
Does the state require that pathologists perform the autopsies? No.
Who pays for an autopsy?
Sometimes the hospital where the patient died will perform an autopsy free of charge to the family or at the request of the doctor treating the patient. However, not all hospitals provide this service. Check with the individual hospital as to their policies.
What are the four typical manners of death?
The classifications are natural, accident, suicide, homicide, undetermined, and pending. Only medical examiner’s and coroners may use all of the manners of death.
When someone dies do you have to identify the body?
It is the medical examiner’s responsibility to determine the identity of the deceased individual in a postmortem examination. The ideal result is a positive identification based on objective evidence without doubt as to the identity of the deceased. In some cases, a positive identification cannot be made.
Where is the medical examiner in Suffolk County?
The Office of the Suffolk County Medical Examiner Department is an 85,000 square foot facility physically located in Hauppauge in the North County Complex off of Veterans Memorial Highway. The Division is comprised of the Medical Forensic, Toxicology, and Crime Laboratory Sections.
How many Coroners and medical examiners are in Massachusetts?
There are 11 Coroners & Medical Examiners in Massachusetts, serving a population of 6,789,319 people in an area of 7,800 square miles. There is 1 Coroner & Medical Examiner per 617,210 people, and 1 Coroner & Medical Examiner per 709 square miles.
How to obtain an autopsy report in Suffolk County?
How do I obtain an autopsy report? A written request must be sent to our office by the next of kin, including your name, address, phone number, the name of the deceased and their date of death. The request can be mailed to Suffolk County Medical Examiners Office, PO Box 6100 Hauppauge NY 11788, or faxed to Medical Records at 631-853-5812.
What does the Office of the chief medical examiner do?
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner investigates the cause and manner of death for deaths that occur under violent, suspicious, or unexplained circumstances. We work with families and funeral homes to provide information to those affected by sudden or traumatic loss.
