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Mission statement
1. Above all else, we are committed to the care and improvement of human life. In recognition of this commitment, we strive to deliver high quality, cost effective death investigation in the communities we serve.
2. The Medical Examiner Act, Chapter 406.11, Florida Statutes, clearly lists the 12 types of death for which we must accept jurisdiction (covered in Section II). Excluded from that list are apparent natural deaths with a Florida licensed attending physician to sign a death certificate. Because these deaths lie outside of those listed, the statute does not require that such deaths be reported prior to release to a funeral home.
3. Forensic Investigators typically respond to and examine all bodies and surroundings at violent death scenes occurring in Volusia and Seminole Counties. This also includes apparent or suspected drug overdose deaths. For this reason it is important that the body and/or any items on or near the body not be moved until the arrival of the Medical Examiner Investigator if at all possible. Guns, medications, illicit drugs or drug paraphernalia, or any other wounding objects are included in the items that should not be moved if at all possible. If the death involves a potential homicide, an infant, or suspicious circumstances, a pathologist will also respond to the scene.
4. Not all cases referred to the Medical Examiner's Office will be autopsied. In most cases, deaths of a traumatic, suspicious or unnatural nature will be autopsied. This does not, however, include apparent natural deaths. Each case will be examined separately, circumstances of the death reviewed by a medical examiner, and a decision will be made on whether to perform an autopsy. Please do not inform a family that an autopsy will or will not be performed. If the family asks, please tell them to make contact with this office to voice their objection and that it is the decision of the Medical Examiner's Office. If they have questions, give them our phone number and ask them to call us.
5. Cases are examined or autopsied 7 days a week and generally on the day of death or the following day. The medical examiner does not require the permission of next-of-kin to proceed with an autopsy or examination. Death certificates are started by this office and completed by the funeral home making the final arrangements as determined by the family.
6. An autopsy is an intricate medical procedure often requiring complex laboratory tests and for this reason complete results may not be available for several weeks after the death. Autopsy reports typically take a week or two to complete; however, in cases involving drugs or other complex issues, the autopsy report may not be completed for 30days or more. This means that the autopsy report may not be immediately available to the family.
7. The records of the Medical Examiner are public records under Florida Statutes 119. Autopsy reports are sent to the State Attorney and the law enforcement agency investigating the death. Cases under active criminal investigation are not released until the case is closed. Reports are also available upon request to next of kin, attorneys, insurance companies, etc. at no cost but we request a self-addressed envelope stamped with postage for 2 ounces due to report size. Once finalized, reports are mailed out in any self-addressed envelopes we have received and stored with the file.
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