Coroner system and medical system - Research Paper Example

Later on the coroner system established itself as an agency and in 1888 the system of election for coroners was abolished. It was then that the coroners had to be appointed by the designated authorities (Iyer et al 2006). Medical Examiner system also takes its root from the coroner system as it was introduced in America in early 1600s. It was in those times that the coroner and sheriff’s office was the same. It was in 1860 that collaboration of physicians with the coroners began to develop in the New World.

It was in 1877 that a system was established in Massachusetts that a coroner has to be assisted by physicians who were known as the medical examiners. However in those times the physicians were only involved when the death occurred in violent conditions. Pathology soon became a branch of jurisprudence in the 19th century and it was in 1890 that the Board of Baltimore announced the integration of two physicians in examination of dead bodies. It was here that the medical examiner system was established and these physicians had to perform autopsies on the order of the coroner or attorney.

In 1915 the office of coroner was abolished and the medical examiner system took over the states (Iyer et al 2006; Institute of Medicine 2003). Education Requirements The requirement for the post of coroner is a degree in medical or legal field. In some cases it is seen that an attorney, advocate or even magistrate has been made a coroner. The medical examiners on the other hand should have a degree related to medicine or pathology. These examiners have a certificate in medical specialty and are termed as forensic pathologists (Iyer et al 2006).

Duties The duties of coroners and medical examiners are almost the same with regard to the conditions in which the death has occurred. The medical examiners are entitled to find out the cause of death and whether it is natural or unnatural. They use their skills of forensic laboratory to find out that as to if the death has occurred on that spot or not. Moreover they conduct autopsies and laboratory tests to find out the exact physiological mechanism of death. The coroners on the other hand are also involved to find out the time, cause and mechanism of death.

The coroners do not necessarily have medical knowledge to interpret the physiological functions of the body hence they rely upon the evidence that is present on the site. In some cases the coroners also use their prior experience to find out the causes of the death which is not the case of a forensic pathologist (Iyer et al 2006). Appointment of Coroners and Medical Examiners Coroners are appointed by election by a group of people but they must have some qualification in relevance to the field of law or medicine.

It is not necessary that they have expertise in the field of forensics whereas Medical Examiners are appointed through an executive council. The council looks forward to the qualifications of the medical examiners and they are then appointed on the basis of merit. Coroners on the other hand are appointed by a group of officials or a group from the general public. Both the offices of coroners and medical examiners have their own position in the society. There are some countries which follow the old system of coroners whereas some follow the new medical examiner system.

The integrity of both the systems has been argued at many instances (Iyer et al 2006