Medical Examiner Law & Legal Definition
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A medical examiner is the public officer charged with the medical aspects of death investigation. Medical examiners are typically licensed medical and osteopathic physicians in private practice who, as a service to their community and to the state, have consented to serve in this official capacity. The medical examiner is an officer of the state charged with certain statutory powers and duties.
Information gained from these medicolegal investigations is frequently required in the form of evidence and expert testimony in both criminal and civil legal proceedings. When a death occurs on the job or appears to be work-related, the results of the investigation can assist the family in settling insurance claims. These examinations also help identify potentially unsafe consumer products.
