Chapter 6: Medical aid personnel and the Medical Examiner

It is understood that medical, paramedical, Fire Department, or ambulance personnel should take any steps necessary to render life saving aid. These personnel and/or Patrol Officers should be aware that once death is pronounced by Medical, Fire Department, or ambulance personnel, then all activity to the body should cease.

Once death is pronounced, the body is then considered evidence and thus it is the responsibility of the Officer to secure the body and scene. No one should be allowed to tamper with or move the body without the permission of the Medical Examiner.

It is important that the body and its surroundings (including weapons, and/or devices), be preserved in order to allow the Medical Examiner and police investigators to judge the nature and degree of investigation required. If a body is in public view, it should be covered and care taken to keep the public away from the body.

Emergency personnel should not take it upon themselves to transport the body to the Medical Examiner's Office without first clearing this action with the Medical Examiner. This can be done by telephone (206.731.3232 Ext. 1) or radio communication.

Knowledge of medical care given the deceased by the emergency personnel can be of significant value to the Medical Examiner. In order to be most helpful to the Medical Examiner, any intravenous lines, tubes, and dressings should be left in place, any needle puncture wounds made should be circled with a ballpoint pen and initialed "RX".

The "run" sheet, indicating any treatment given to the decedent should be made available to the Medical Examiner Investigator upon arrival at the scene.

Any blood or urine recovered or drawn should be saved and turned over to the Medical Examiner's investigator.

In treating a person, emergency personnel should not use bullet holes or knife wounds for insertion of tubes, etc., because this will destroy valuable evidence that is utilized in the interpretation of injuries. In cases of ligature strangulation, the type of knot, the position of the knot, and the general appearance of the ligature all contribute to an understanding of events.

Frequently emergency personnel will have valuable information about the terminal event. Any information, including suspicions concerning the death, should be relayed to the Medical Examiner's investigator and to the responsible police agency. Identity of the emergency personnel and the telephone number where they can be reached should be left with the Medical Examiner investigator should follow-up contact prove necessary.

Since it is the duty of the Medical Examiner to notify the next of kin, emergency personnel need not search the body, clothing, or premises for identification. After death, it is best to allow the Medical Examiner's investigator to contact the family physician. If emergency personnel have made contact with the physician prior to death, that information should be given to the Medical Examiner's investigator.