Forensic Dentistry, Second Edition

death investigation systems 43

function of governments instead of the church. This change was given further
impetus during infectious epidemics of the nineteenth century, when it came
to be appreciated that it would be worthwhile to keep track of the numbers
of deaths occurring as an infectious contagion progressed.^18 Subsequently,
govern ments around the world began to require registration and certifica-
tion of births and deaths. Modern death certification is a function of state
governments, and all jurisdictions in the United States have a common
requirement that the death of a person be officially documented, with attes-
tation of the cause and manner of death by a physician, medical examiner,
coroner, or other official. The document serving this purpose is referred to as
a death certificate, and requirements regarding its use and filing are set forth
by a state department of health, vital records, or equivalent.^28 State death

Table 4.1 Distribution of Types of Death

Investigation Systems in the United States

States Served by

ME Systems

States Served by

Coroner Systems

States Served by

Mixed Systems

(all state MEs except where otherwise noted)

Alaska Colorado Alabama

Arizonaa Idaho Arkansasc

Connecticut Indiana California

Delaware Kansas Georgia

Floridab Louisiana Hawaii

Iowa Nebraska Illinois

Maine Nevada Kentuckyc

Maryland North Dakota Minnesota

Massachusetts South Carolina Mississippic

Michigana South Dakota Missouri

New Hampshire Wyoming Montanac

New Jersey New York

New Mexico Ohio

North Carolina Pennsylvania

Oklahoma Texas

Oregon Washington

Rhode Island Wisconsin

Tennessee

Utah

Ve r m o n t

Virginia

West Virginia

Source: Adapted from Hanzlick.^26

a Medical examiner in each county.

b District medical examiners.

c Mixed-system states with state medical examiner.