lacounty.gov

Our Process

Jurisdiction (Why is the Department of Medical Examiner involved)

State law instructs the Department of Medical Examiner to inquire into and determine the circumstances, manner, and cause of all sudden, violent, or unusual deaths, and those deaths where the decedent has not been seen by a physician 20 days prior to death. In such cases, the deceased may be taken to the Department of Medical Examiner's facility and examined by a deputy medical examiner to determine the cause of death. A death certificate is issued after the examination is completed. Occasionally, more extensive testing is required, in which case an interim or deferred death certificate is issued, which allows the family to make funeral arrangements. An amended death certificate will follow after completion of special testing.

Reporting Desk

The Reporting Desk is in charge of receiving the initial notification of death from reporting parties such as law enforcement, health care providers, families and funeral directors. They determine if the death falls under the jurisdiction of the County of Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner and initiate death investigations, when appropriate.

Transportation

Per California Government Code Section 27472, 54985 & Los Angeles County Code 2.22.100, the County is authorized to assess certain fees for transportation and handling of decedents. Specifically, this is the cost of transporting the decedent from the place of death to our facility.

Pay Transportation Fee

Investigations

Investigations may be simple, involving a few phone calls to verify an expected death from a known terminal condition; or they may be complex, involving a thorough death scene investigation, property protection, and multiple interviews. They may also include an autopsy, identification procedures, and location and notification of next-of-kin.

Identification and Viewing

Please note, the Department of Medical Examiner does not have a decedent viewing facility.

Examination

An examination is conducted by a deputy medical examiner to determine the cause and manner of death. The DME will assess whether an autopsy and/or laboratory tests are required as part of the examination. If we do not require an autopsy for our official purposes, the legal next-of-kin may request that we perform one at his/her expense, if desired.

Release of the Body

The decedent's body will be available for release after completion of the examination. Your funeral director will coordinate the release on your behalf. Upon receipt of a signed authorization from the legal next-of-kin, the decedents body will be released to a mortuary/funeral home. The release may be signed by the legal next-of-kin authorized by law to direct disposition of the remains; this person sometimes differs from persons authorized to handle other aspects of the decedent's affairs. The mortuary normally provides the authorization form, obtains the proper signature, and submits the documents to the Department.

Property

Decedents personal possessions in the custody of the Department of Medical Examiner may be claimed by the legal next of kin. Governmental documents (drivers licenses, passports, military identification cards) will not be released to the next of kin. These documents will be returned to the issuing agency for disposition. Sometimes, personal possessions are taken into custody by law enforcement agencies. You will need to contact those agencies to recover personal possessions in their custody. Clothing is not usually considered property. Unless there is a need to hold clothing as evidence, it is released to the mortuary recovering the deceased. Clothing that presents a health and safety hazard may be disposed of for the safety of all persons involved.

Form 7 Declaration Form

Records

Records can include the Department of Medical Examiner case reports, Proof of Death letters, and Port of Entry Letters. The Department of Medical Examiner case reports are stored in our Records Unit for safe keeping. Case reports usually include autopsy, toxicology, and investigator reports.

Glossary of Terms

Autopsy

also known as a post-mortem examination, necropsy (particularly as to non-human bodies), autopsia cadaverum, or obduction — is a highly specialized surgical procedure that consists of a thorough examination of a corpse to determine the cause and manner of death and to evaluate any disease or injury that may be present. It is usually performed by a specialized medical doctor called a pathologist.

Biological specimens

blood, sections of organs, vitreous, bile, and urine.

Cause of death

an injury or disease that ultimately leads to death of the individual, generally determined by medical examiners or coroners.

Certificate of Religious Belief

in California, in order to execute a certificate of religious belief, a person must be 18 years of age or older and must state in clear and unambiguous language that any postmortem anatomical dissection or that specified procedures would violate the religious convictions of the person. The certificate must be signed and dated by the person in the presence of at least two witnesses. Each witness must also sign the certificate and must print on the certificate his or her name and residence address. California law allows the state to override religious objection if the coroner "has a reasonable suspicion that the death was caused by the criminal act of another or by a contagious disease constituting a public health hazard."

Chain of custody

a method of keeping track of who has handled a piece of evidence and when.

County Disposition

The County of Los Angeles will cremate the remains of a decedent and hold the cremains (ashes) for a period of time (about 3 years) before the ashes are interred in a common gravesite at the LA County Cemetery.

Decomposition

the disintegration of body tissues after death.

DME

Department of Medical Examiner

Evidence

any physical items such as bullets, hairs, fibers, biological fluids, etc., documents and statements that are included in a legal investigation for the jury’s or judge’s consideration in the determination of an individual’s guilt or innocence.

Forensic pathologist

A medical doctor who specializes in the sub-specialty of pathology that focuses on determining the cause of death by examining a corpse. The autopsy is performed by the pathologist usually during the investigation of criminal law cases and civil law cases in some jurisdictions.

Forensic Science

Forensic Science is the application of all forms of science to aid legal investigations.

Indigency

The lack of ability to pay as a legal reason for having certain required fees waived; being declared eligible for free services.

Manner of death

is how the death came about. Natural - due entirely (or nearly so) to natural disease processes. Homicide - due to a volitional act of another person. Suicide - due to injury that occurred with the intent to induce self-harm or cause one’s own death. Accident - due to injury when there is no evidence of intent to harm. Undetermined - inadequate information regarding the circumstances of death to determine manner; example: individual found unconscious with massive subdural hemorrhage; in the absence of information on the events leading up to death, it is impossible to determine if the hemorrhage is due to accidental fall, homicidal violence, etc.

Medical examiner

is a medically qualified forensic pathologist and government official whose duty is to investigate deaths and injuries that occur under unusual or suspicious circumstances, to perform post-mortem examinations, and in some jurisdictions to initiate inquests.

Medicolegal Autopsy

a medicolegal autopsy is done with the possibility of litigation in mind. The autopsy is designed to determine the cause of death, properly document findings, and collect evidence. A primary objective is to try to reconstruct the circumstances and events that led to the death so that a mode (natural, accident, suicide, homicide, or undetermined) can be established. A medicolegal autopsy differs from a hospital autopsy. A hospital autopsy is designed to confirm a known or suspected disease and gain further knowledge of the disease. The emphasis is placed on the gross and microscopic examination of internal organs. In a medicolegal autopsy the emphasis is shifted to the external examination and the description of external and associated internal injuries. Microscopic examination is done only when indicated. Information about identification of the remains, time of death, evidence of drug use, age of injuries, etc., becomes important and must be recorded carefully. It is imperative that findings be recorded clearly and objectively. Any forensic pathologist should be able to interpret the findings years later without difficulty. The forensic autopsy protocol must be standardized and reproducible.

Next of Kin

aNearest relative: if married, the spouse, if no spouse then adult children, or surviving parents, or blood relative, according to California State Law, unless otherwise specified in a legal document.

Toxicology

or postmortem (after death) toxicology analyzes biological specimens collected at autopsy for the presence of drugs, toxins, and poisons to help determine cause and manner of death.