About Coroners

The job of a coroner varies greatly depending on the jurisdiction in which she works. Commonly the coroner is an extension of the sheriff's office and determines the circumstances surrounding deaths deemed suspicious. In other jurisdictions, the coroner has been replaced by the medical examiner, but often retains the title of coroner. The title of coroner is used widely, but the duties performed are determined by the customs of their jurisdiction.

Function

The job of a coroner is an elected position that requires no medical training. Commonly confused with medical examiners who are physicians, the role of the coroner differs in that they have semi-judicial job duties. Rather than performing autopsies, coroners may issue subpoenas and investigate deaths. However, similar to medical examiners, coroners are responsible for determining the cause and manner of death. The skills a coroner uses to determine these, however, are more similar to a police detective than a medical professional.

History

The position of coroner dates back to 1194 England to protect the financial interests of the monarchy in the case of criminal matters. Additionally, if traditional law enforcement officials were involved in criminal proceedings, the coroner would act as the investigative entity. The role of the coroner was changed from a judicial role to an administrative role in 1215. Of the many traditions brought to America, the position of coroner is one that remains visible today.

Features

The traditional post of coroner that requires the position to investigate time, cause and manner of death requires no specific training in many jurisdictions. Since the position is an elected one, it is up to the constituents of a particular district to determine what qualifications a coroner must have. In jurisdictions where coroners act as medical examiners, a license to practice medicine and a specialty in forensic medicine is usually required because it is an appointed position. Again, the qualifications depend on the duties performed by the office of the coroner.

Geography

Coroners mostly exist outside of large metropolitan areas where the services of a medical professional aren't warranted. In many small towns, a sheriff or other elected official holds the coroner's position. The reason for this is that larger cities typically experience more murders or suspicious deaths and therefore need the experience and skills of a licensed medical examiner. In many smaller towns and rural areas coroners act in the capacity of law enforcement, whereas in many large cities the role of coroner has been replaced by that of medical examiner.

Misconceptions

A common misconception about coroners is that they perform medical exams on dead bodies to determine cause and manner of death. Although in many jurisdictions coroners determine cause and manner of death, it is done using investigative techniques rather than forensic ones. In other jurisdictions, the job of coroner is held by a physician who can more accurately determine cause and manner of death. The title and duties of many coroners varies by jurisdiction and customs.