Medicolegal Death Investigation

In the United States, the medicolegal death investigation profession is generally comprised of three major personnel categories: medicolegal death investigators, coroners, and medical examiners. The Medicolegal Death Investigation Subcommittee examined ways to enhance services being provided by this array of practitioners and developed solutions that ensure that our nation is provided the highest quality services related to the determination of cause and manner of death.

Medicolegal Death Investigation Subcommittee Members

Work Products Archive

Formation of a National Office for Medicolegal Death Investigation
Initial Draft Recommendation on Formation of a National Office for Medicolegal Death Investigation (Introduced at NCFS Meeting #10 – June 20-21, 2016)
Adjudication Summary for Recommendation on Formation of a National Office for Medicolegal Death Investigation
Final Draft Recommendation on Formation of a National Office for Medicolegal Death Investigation
Recommendation on Formation of a National Office for Medicolegal Death Investigation (Adopted at NCFS Meeting #11 - September 13, 2016)

Next of Kin Communication
Initial Draft Views on Communication with Next of Kin and Other Family Members (Introduced at NCFS Meeting #10 – June 20-21, 2016)
Adjudication Summary for Views on Communication with Next of Kin and Other Family Members
Final Draft Views on Communication with Next of Kin and Other Family Members
Views on Communication with Next of Kin and Other Family Members (Adopted at NCFS Meeting #11 - September 13, 2016)

Certification of Medicolegal Death Investigators
Initial Draft Recommendation on Accreditation and Certification of Medicolegal Death Investigation Personnel (Introduced at NCFS Meeting #4 – October 28-29, 2014)
Final Draft Recommendation on Certification of Medicolegal Death Investigators   
Recommendation on Certification of Medicolegal Death Investigators (Adopted at NCFS Meeting #5 - January 29-30, 2015)
Views on Certification of Medicolegal Death Investigators (Adopted at NCFS Meeting #10 - June 20-21, 2016)

Accreditation of Medicolegal Death Investigation Offices
Initial Draft Policy Recommendation on Accreditation and Certification of Medicolegal Death Investigation Personnel (Introduced at NCFS Meeting #4 – October 28-29, 2014)
Final Draft Policy Recommendation on Accreditation of Medicolegal Death Investigation Offices
Recommendation on Accreditation of Medicolegal Death Investigation Offices (Adopted at NCFS Meeting #5 - January 29-30, 2015)
Views on Accreditation of Medicolegal Death Investigation Offices (Adopted at NCFS Meeting #10 - June 20-21, 2016)

Electronic Networking of Medical Examiner and Coroner Offices
Initial Draft Recommendation on Electronic Networking of Medical Examiner and Coroner Offices (Introduced at NCFS Meeting #6 – April 30-May 1, 2015)
Adjudication Summary for Recommendation on Electronic Networking of Medical Examiner and Coroner Offices  
Final Draft Recommendation on Electronic Networking of Medical Examiner and Coroner Offices
Recommendation on Electronic Networking of Medical Examiner and Coroner Offices (Adopted at NCFS Meeting #7 - August 10-11, 2015)

Increasing the Number, Retention and Quality of Board-Certified Forensic Pathologists
Initial Draft Views on Increasing the Number, Retention and Quality of Board-Certified Forensic Pathologists (Introduced at NCFS Meeting #6 – April 30-May 1, 2015)
Adjudication Summary for Views on Increasing the Number, Retention and Quality of Board-Certified Forensic Pathologists
Final Draft Views on Increasing the Number, Retention and Quality of Board-Certified Forensic Pathologists
Views on Increasing the Number, Retention and Quality of Board-Certified Forensic Pathologists (Adopted at NCFS Meeting #7 - August 10-11, 2015)

National Disaster Call Center
Initial Draft Recommendation on National Disaster Call Center (Introduced at NCFS Meeting #9 – March 21-22, 2016)
Adjudication Summary for Recommendation on National Disaster Call Center
Final Draft Recommendation on the National Disaster Call Center
Recommendation on National Disaster Call Center (Adopted at NCFS Meeting #10 - June 20-21, 2016)

Model Legislation
Initial Draft Recommendation on Model Legislation for Medicolegal Death Investigation Systems (Introduced at NCFS Meeting #11 – September 12-13, 2016)
Adjudication Summary for Recommendation on Model Legislation for Medicolegal Death Investigation Systems
Final Draft Recommendation on Model Legislation for Medicolegal Death Investigation Systems
Recommendation on Model Legislation for Medicolegal Death Investigation Systems (Adopted at NCFS Meeting #12 - January 9, 2017)

Recognizing the Autonomy and Neutrality of Forensic Pathologists
Initial Draft Views on Recognizing the Autonomy and Neutrality of Forensic Pathologists (Introduced at NCFS Meeting #11 – September 12-13, 2016)
Adjudication Summary for Views on Recognizing the Autonomy and Neutrality of Forensic Pathologists
Final Draft Views on Recognizing the Autonomy and Neutrality of Forensic Pathologists
Views on Recognizing the Autonomy and Neutrality of Forensic Pathologists (Adopted at NCFS Meeting #12 - January 9, 2017)