Medical examiner model
Definition
A death-inquiry system headed by a forensic pathologist who holds statutory authority to investigate and certify deaths falling within specified categories (homicide, suicide, accident, undetermined, and sudden unexpected death). Used in approximately half of US jurisdictions and many European countries.
Related terms
- Algor mortis
- Postmortem cooling of the body toward ambient temperature, approximately 1-1.5 degrees Celsius per hour under average conditions. Used alongside other postmortem changes...
- Coroner model
- A death-inquiry system headed by an elected or appointed official (the coroner) who need not be a physician. Holds legal authority to...
- Forensic nurse death investigator (FNDI)
- A registered nurse with medicolegal death investigation training who conducts scene assessment, collects ante-mortem history, documents postmortem findings, and coordinates information between...
- Livor mortis
- Postmortem pooling of blood in dependent tissues producing a purple-red discolouration. Becomes fixed at roughly 8-12 hours; discordance between liver position and...
- Medicolegal death investigator (MLDI)
- A broader category of non-physician death investigators, including but not limited to nurses, who work under the authority of a coroner or...
Explained in
- The Forensic Nurse Death Investigator and Coroner RoleA death-inquiry system headed by a forensic pathologist who holds statutory authority to investigate and certify deaths falling within specified categories (ho...