St Lucie County Medical Examiner (2024)

FAQs

Are medical examiner records public in Florida? ›

Records requests must be submitted in writing. Under state law, all government records "Shall be open for personal inspection by any person." Citation - Chapter 119.

A Medical Examiner is a forensic pathologist (a medical doctor with subspeciality training) with particular expertise in investigating violent, sudden and unexpected, suspicious or unattended deaths. A Coroner is an elected or appointed public officer whose chief duty is to certify the cause of death.

Chief Medical Examiners are appointed by the Governor and are reappointed every three years in non-home role jurisdictions. Associate Medical Examiners, Forensic Investigators, Morgue Personnel and law enforcement agencies assist the Chief Medical Examiner. The current Chief Medical Examiner is Dr. Rebecca Hamilton.

In 1970, the State of Florida enacted Florida Statute 406, which establishes a statewide Medical Examiner System of death investigation. The state is divided into 25 "Districts.” The Governor appoints a medical examiner to each district for three-year terms.

Death certificates which includes the cause of death may only be issued to eligible family members and others legally entitled to that information. Copies of the death certificate are available from either the funeral director handling the deceased or the local Florida Department of Health's Bureau of Vital Statistics.

Death certificates are public record without cause of death. Anyone may obtain certified copies without the cause of death information. The cause of death becomes public information after 50 years from the date of death. By Florida law, the cause of death is considered confidential prior to that time.

A medical examiner who does an autopsy is a doctor, usually a pathologist. Clinical autopsies are always done by a pathologist.

As of Aug 21, 2024, the average annual pay for a Medical Examiner Investigator in Florida is $53,020 a year.

The Coroner is usually not a physician, and is not trained in medicine, Forensic Medicine or Forensic Science. A Medical Examiner is required to be a physician, certified by the American Board of Pathology in the medical specialty of Forensic Pathology, and experienced in the Forensic Sciences.

In Florida, the cost of an autopsy that was ordered by a coroner or medical examiner will be covered by the county where the person died. As you can imagine, this comes as a relief for many families who otherwise may not be able to afford the procedure (most autopsies fall in the $2,000 – $5,000 range).

Why would a medical examiner be called to a home? ›

Why is the Department of Medical Examiner involved? State law requires the Department of Medical Examiner to inquire into and determine the circ*mstances, manner, and cause of all sudden, violent, or unusual deaths, and those deaths where the decedent has not been seen by a physician 20 days prior to death.

Some cases can take up to twelve weeks to finalize (not pending). However, this does not prevent the body from being released after the autopsy is completed within 24 to 48 hours of the examination. Q.

Some states limit autopsy reports to next of kin or individuals who have a legitimate interest in the report. Several states make autopsy reports public records, though in certain circ*mstances, the records can be withheld.

Along with Florida state law, the federal law known as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), normally requires doctors and their staff to keep your medical records confidential, unless you allow the doctor's office to disclose them.

Section 119.011(12), F.S., defines "public records" to include: all documents, papers, letters, maps, books, tapes, photographs, films, sound recordings, data processing software, or other material, regardless of the physical form, characteristics, or means of transmission, made or received pursuant to law or ordinance ...

In Florida, any person of legal age may order a Florida Death Certificate without Cause of Death. A Florida Death Certificate with Cause of Death is confidential by Florida Law and may only be issued as follows: To the decedent's spouse, parent, child, grandchild, or sibling (if 18 years of age or older).