Job Description of a Medical Examiner
The medical examination profession is a key field in the medical, criminal and science industries. The examiner provides invaluable insight into deaths for possible criminal justice and for public health and safety reasons.
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Function
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The purpose of a medical examiner is to examine bodies of individuals who have died from unnatural causes to determine the cause of death. Thus, a medical examiner often works on criminal cases and situations where the cause of death is unknown.
Skills
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The skills required for the profession include: leadership, scientific knowledge, logic and reasoning, ability to work with and listen to people, decision making, high attention to detail, medical knowledge, and excellent written and spoken communication.
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Responsibilities
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The responsibilities of the medical examiner include: investigating unnatural deaths, death scene investigation, reporting to health boards and other organizations concerning public health issues resulting from examinations, writing death certificates, performing autopsies, providing testimonies in court, and writing detailed reports concerning information gathered.
Education
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If you are interested in the medical examiner profession, first obtain a four year degree in a medical or science field. The second step is to earn a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) or Osteopathic Physician's (D.O.) degree in forensic sciences. After that, expect at least four years of training and one year of residency in the forensic pathology field, and finally, you must pass the certification exam of the American Board of Pathology.
Considerations
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If you are considering becoming a medical examiner, you should realize what the work entails. You will handle bodies altered in some way by illness or physical attack. You must keep emotions in check on the job to perform your duties professionally.
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