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Why is a body
brought to the Medical Examiner's Office?
When a
person expires from apparent criminal acts,
violence, by accident, suicide, suddenly when in
apparent good health, when unattended by a
physician for a reasonable period of time, in
detention, or in any suspicious or unusual manner,
Ohio law requires the Medical Examiner/Coroner to
investigate the death. Another reason that a body
may be brought to the Medical Examiner's Office is
that the identity of the deceased or next of kin
may be unknown. |
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When is an
autopsy performed?
Not all persons
brought to the Medical Examiner's Office are
autopsied. Certain cases are not autopsied when no
"foul play" is suspected and evidence of a natural
death is present. In other cases, where there is
the possibility of legal proceedings, which may
arise as a result of a homicide, accident,
suicide, etc., an autopsy will be performed. In
these cases, both positive and negative
information is found which substantiates the
ruling and cause of death as signed by the Medical
Examiner. |
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Does the ME need
permission from next of kin to perform an autopsy?
Ohio law (ORC
2108.52) provides that the Medical
Examiner/Coroner does not need permission to
perform an autopsy. The Office of the Medical
Examiner will attempt to comply with the wishes of
the next of kin, especially if there is a family
religious interest and when this does not conflict
with the duties of the Medical Examiner as charged
by Ohio law. |
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What is an
autopsy and is there a charge?
An autopsy is a
systematic examination by a qualified physician
respectful of a deceased person for the purpose of
determining the cause of death and recovering from
the body evidence of the cause of death. A record
is made of the findings of the autopsy, including
microscopic and toxicological laboratory tests.
These laboratory tests are conducted after the
release of the body to the next of kin for burial.
There is no charge to the next of kin for an
autopsy nor for any of the tests which may be
conducted by the Medical Examiner's Office. |
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How will the body
be released?
Routinely, the Medical Examiner's Office releases
the body to a licensed funeral director. The next
of kin of the deceased person should notify a
funeral director who, in turn, will arrange for
transportation of the deceased to the funeral home
and obtain the necessary documents for burial or
cremation. |
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How can a funeral
director be selected?
Most often, the next of kin will discuss the
selection of a funeral director with other family
members, clergy, or friends. The Office of the
Medical Examiner is prohibited from recommending a
funeral director. A listing of funeral directors
is available in the telephone book as well as
other sources. |
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Where may the
clothing of the deceased be obtained?
Usually the clothing of the deceased is forwarded
to the funeral director for disposal. In cases of
suspected homicide, various suicides, or
accidental deaths,
the clothing may be held by the Medical Examiner's
Office or the investigating law enforcement agency
for use as evidence. |
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How can relative
obtain the property of the deceased?
The
Medical Examiner shall notify any known relatives
of the deceased person who meets death in the
manner described by Sections 313.11 and 313.22 of
the Ohio Revised Code by letter or otherwise. The
next of kin, other relatives, or friends of the
deceased person, in the order named, shall have
prior right as to the disposition of the body of
such a death. The Medical Examiner shall take
charge and possession of all money, clothing, and
other valuable personal effects of such deceased
person, found in connection with or pertaining to
such body, and shall secure such possessions in
the Medical Examiner's Office or such other
suitable place as is provided for such storage by
the county council. |
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How long does it
take for a death ruling to be made?
This procedure is handled differently by various
Counties. In Summit County, in many cases, a
signed death certificate accompanies the body when
it is released by the Medical Examiner. When there
is insufficient information available to complete
the death certificate, a "Pending findings, facts,
and verdict" death certificate is issued that
accompanies the body. This death certificate
enables the funeral services and burial to take
place while additional chemical, microscopic slide
preparation and examination, and other
investigation continues. At the culmination of
these tests and investigation, a ruling is made
based on all available information. A supplemental
death certificate is then issued with the cause of
death and ruling which supersedes the "Pending"
death certificate. |
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How can ME office
records be obtained?
The interested party should call the Medical
Examiner's Office at (330) 643-2101,
to obtain the procedure. |
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Where can copies
of the death certificate be obtained?
Certified copies of death certificates can only be
obtained from the Bureau of Vital Statistics of
each respective health district. The phone number
and address can be obtained from the local
telephone book. |
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Will an autopsy
disfigure the body and prevent an open casket
funeral?
Necessary incisions used to perform the autopsy
are easily covered by clothing and do not prevent
open casket viewing. |
