Question

Samuel is a coroner for a large county. While working at his job, Samuel is notified that a 79 year old man in is jurisdiction has been found dead in his home. After speaking with the responding officers for approximately 1 minute, Samuel concludes that is completely unnecessary to view the scene or the decedent, as it is likely the man died as a result of natural causes. Samuel reasons that the decedent is elderly, and "old people die all the time, it's what they do." Samuel tells the officers responding to the decedent's home that there is no reason to keep the scene secure, and that they can call the funeral home to pick up the decedent, as no investigation or autopsy will be needed. Is Samuel's assumption about the decedent correct?

A) YES.
B) NO.

Answer 1

The assumption by Samuel, the coroner, that the elderly man died of natural causes without investigation is incorrect. Proper examination is essential to determine the cause of death, even in elderly individuals, and dismissing this protocol is not in accordance with medical or legal practice.

Explanation:

The assumption made by Samuel, the coroner, that the 79-year-old man died of natural causes without conducting a proper investigation is incorrect (B) NO. As a coroner, it is Samuel's professional responsibility to investigate the circumstances of any unattended death. Ruling out the possibility of an autopsy or investigation based solely on the decedent's age is not a sound medical or legal practice. It is important to consider that while elderly people have a higher mortality rate, the cause of death cannot be assumed without thorough examination. There are various factors that could contribute to an elderly person's death beyond natural causes, including accidents, foul play, or undiagnosed medical conditions.

Forensic pathologists and forensic anthropologists play crucial roles in determining the cause of death, especially when the cause is not immediately apparent. They utilize tools such as analysis of medical history, toxicology, and postmortem examination to uncover evidence that helps determine how and why someone died. Dismissing these practices can overlook critical legal and medical information, potentially leading to missed signs of criminal activity or public health issues.