Lenawee County Medical Examiner's Office

Transcription

1 Lenawee County Medical Examiner's Office Annual Report 7

2 Compiled by 's Office Bader J. Cassin, MD Chief Medical Examiner Sarah Palmani Office Manager Investigators Linda Hastings Ryan Hlavka Dan Myers Dave Nowland Don Spieldenner Rick Stanke Steward Szczepanski Corinne Tipton Jeff White

3 OFFICE OF THE LENAWEE COUNTY MEDICAL EXAMINER To: Lenawee County Board of Commissioners and the Citizens of Lenawee County The laws of the State of Michigan assign the responsibility for determining the cause and manner of unexpected deaths in each county to the medical examiner. The upholds these laws and accepts this responsibility with full commitment to a consistent high quality service. Every reported death is investigated thoroughly, frequently with the cooperation of law enforcement agencies and health care personnel in Lenawee County. The results of these death investigations provide valuable information which is used in professional education and by the criminal justice system, public health department, families of the deceased and other concerned persons. While the Medical Examiner and staff of investigators and support persons are primarily concerned with the circumstances surrounding unexpected deaths, our concern for the living is reflected in our regular reviews of all childhood deaths with concerned and involved state and county agencies, as well as our support for tissue and organ donations through the Gift of Life program to provide lifesaving specimens to those individuals waiting for a chance at normal living. During 7, we experienced a continued slight increase in death investigations, approximately in every county deaths. 8% of the deaths reported to our office occurred in persons over the age of 5. Of the reported deaths, % were selected for autopsy and further investigation. 5% of our reported deaths occurred at home and were caused nearly equally by either disease or injury. 6% of reported deaths were caused by accident, a progressive rise over the years. This was in spite of a drop in drug-related deaths to (caused exclusively or in part by an injected or ingested substance). Another significant statistical improvement was in the number of suicides (all by firearm or asphyxia), the lowest in years. During the year we wrote death certificates and, in addition, reviewed 6 deaths for which a cremation permit was requested. Inquiries from neighboring Hillsdale County led to the development of a cooperative agreement with Lenawee County which instituted in August a death investigation system in that county by sharing our experience and resources. This relationship is now providing a professional presence in Hillsdale County and is benefiting both counties. The maintenance of a properly prepared and effective death investigation system necessarily involves periodic investigator recruitment and continuing education in forensic science. These regular efforts, along with the many requirements of our combined investigator activities, are coordinated by the individual investigators and by our dedicated support staff. I want to thank the Lenawee County Board of Commissioners and the County Administration for their encouragement and support of this program, which enables the medical examiner staff to provide this necessary and valuable service to the citizens of Lenawee County. I submit this annual report to demonstrate the expanding scope and sophistication of this professional and continued cost-effective service. I take pride in the continued development of this office and welcome the opportunity to discuss any aspect of this report with you. Respectfully Submitted, Bader J. Cassin, M.D.

4 Number of Cases: Office of the Medical Examiner Overview of Medical Examiner Cases 7 Total Cases: Male: Female: 8 Autopsies: 8 Male: 56 Female: 7 Toxicology: 8 5 Total ME Cases Total ME Cases vs. Filed County Deaths 7 Total Cases: Filed County Deaths:, 9% 85, 8%

5 Overview of Cases 7 Cases by Age: Place of Death: to 8: 6 Total M.E. Deaths at Home: 9 to : Total M.E. Deaths at Care Facility: 8 to : 6 Total M.E. Deaths at Scene: to 5: Total M.E. Deaths Jail/Prison: 5 to 6: Total: 6 to 7: 9 7 and up: 79 Total: 7 and up: 6 to 7: 5 to 6: to 5: to : 9 to : to 8: 5 5 Cases by Age and Gender to 8: 9 to : to : to 5: 5 to 6: 6 to 7: 7 and up: Female: Male: Place of Death 7 Home Care Facility Scene Jail/Prison % % 9% 5%

6 Overview of Cases 7 Manners of Death: Natural: 6 Accident: Suicide: 5 Homicide: Indeterminate: Total: Manner of Death 7 Natural: Accident: Suicide: Homicide: Indeterminate: % % % 6% 8% Autopsies by Manners of Death: Natural: 8 Accident: 8 Suicide: 5 Homicide: Indeterminate: Total: 8 Autopsies by Manner of Death 7 Natural: Accident: Suicide: Homicide: Indeterminate: 6% % % % 58%

7 Overview of Cases 7 Mechanism of Death: Male: Female: Drugs: Firearm: Asphyxia: MVC: 7 Other VC: Fall: 5 Poison: Stab: Fire: Crushing Injuries: Drowning: Hypothermia: Total: Mechanism of Death 7 Male Female 7 6 Total ME Cases vs. Drug Related Deaths 7 Total Deaths: Drug Deaths:, 6%, 9%

8 Number of Cases: Overview of Cases 7 Suicides by Age and Gender: Suicide by Mechanism of Death: Male: Female: Firearm: to : Asphyxia: to : Poisoning: to 6: Drugs: 6 and up: Other: Total: Total: 5.5 Suicides by Mechanism of Death Gun: Asphyxia: Poison: Drugs: Means 6 Suicides by Gender Male Female

9 Number of Cases: Number of Cases: Overview of Cases 7 Accidents by Age and Gender: Accident by Mechanism of Death: Male: Female: MVC: to : Other Vehicle: to : 8 Fall: 5 to 6: 8 Fire: 6 and up: 7 Drowning: Total: 6 7 Firearm: Asphyxia: Drug: Poisoning: Hypothermia: Total: 8 6 MVC: Accidents by Mechanism of Death 7 Other VC: Fall: Fire: Drown: Gun: Asphyxia : Drug: Poison: Means 5 Hypother mia: Accidents by Gender Male Female

10 Number of Cases: Overview of Cases 7 Indeterminate Deaths: Indeterminate By Mechanism of Death: Male: Female: Drugs: - : Infant Death: - : Other: - 6: Total: 6 and up: Total: Homicides Male Female