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.