Medical Examiner Home Page
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 Frequently Asked Questions
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| What is the primary function of the Medical Examiner Department? | |
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The primary function of the Medical Examiner Department is to determine a truthful,
logical and scientifically unbiased cause and manner of death. Cause of Death is defined as the disease or injury which set in motion the chain of events which ultimately results in the death of an individual. Manner of Death is classified into five categories: natural, accident, suicide, homicide and undetermined. The manner of death is determined by the circumstances surrounding the death. |
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| What types of death fall under the Medical Examiner’s jurisdiction? | |
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Iowa law mandates which deaths fall under the jurisdiction of the Medical Examiner. These deaths are
described by the Iowa Code (section 331.802) as those “which affect the public interest”. These deaths
include unexpected deaths, suspicious deaths, deaths related to disease thought to be virulent or
contagious, deaths of children under the age of two, violent deaths by accident, suicide, or
homicide, work related deaths, deaths which occurred while in custody of the law, deaths due to
drowning, poisoning, and natural disaster, and unclaimed or unidentified bodies.
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| What is the difference between a medical examiner and medical investigator? | |
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Iowa uses a medical examiner system and not a coroner system. A medical examiner (ME) is a physician licensed
by the State of Iowa, appointed by the County Board of Supervisors and approved by the State Medical Examiner
to conduct investigations necessary to determine the cause and manner of death of individuals who die under
violent, sudden, suspicious, unknown and unexpected circumstances (Iowa Code 331.802(3)). Medical examiner
investigators (MI) are trained death investigators who assist the ME in performing these duties. Their main
objectives are to positively identify the decedent and gather the information needed to impartially
determine the cause and manner of death. |
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| If a death appears natural, why is the Medical Examiner Department involved? | |
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The medical examiner may take jurisdiction over an apparent natural death if the death was: (1) unexpected,
(2) if the cause was undetermined, (3) if the decedent was not under the care of a physician, and/or (4)
if death might be due to a virulent or contagious disease. |
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| What is an autopsy? | |
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An autopsy is a detailed medical examination of a person’s body and organs after death. The function of the
autopsy is to help establish a cause and manner of death by fully identifying and describing diseases or
injuries that caused death. The autopsy is performed by a pathologist (a physician specializing in the
study of human disease) or a forensic pathologist (a pathologist with specialized training in recognizing,
interpreting, and documenting features of injury and disease). Surgical techniques are used to remove and
examine each organ while tissues and blood samples are selected for microscopic examination and toxicology
testing. In some cases it may be necessary to retain larger portions of tissues or even whole organs, such as when the brain needs to be examined in detail. After this examination, which may require many weeks, the residual tissues are retained in a manner similar to the retention of other autopsy specimens. If you want those tissues returned after examination, it will be necessary to contact us to arrange for the tissues to be sent to your funeral service provider. |
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| When and why is an autopsy needed and who determines this? | |
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Autopsies are ordered by the medical examiner based upon his/her medical opinion that an autopsy is
needed to assist in determining the cause and manner of death. In some instances an autopsy may be
required by law due to the circumstances surrounding the death. |
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| Why is an autopsy necessary if the cause of death seems obvious, such as a gunshot wound? | |
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A complete autopsy examination can help determine details necessary for determining the manner of
death and provide information which may be necessary for insurance purposes and legal proceedings.
Details in an autopsy report may include determination of direction of the wound, extent of injury,
number of wounds, and range of fire (distance from muzzle to victim). |
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| May a family refuse an autopsy ordered by the Medical Examiner? | |
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No. Autopsies are performed in order to answer medicolegal questions and questions of law. We try to
accommodate to families individual wishes and beliefs to the best of our abilities while at the same
time fulfilling any legal obligations that may be presented by an individual’s death.
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| Who pays for the autopsy? | |
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There is no cost to the family for an autopsy that is ordered by the Medical Examiner. The
county where the death occurred will pay for the autopsy expenses and will be reimbursed by
the county of the decedent’s residence. |
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| Does an autopsy affect funeral services? | |
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An autopsy generally does not delay funeral services and will not prevent the option of
a viewing of your loved one by family and friends.
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| Where will the autopsy take place? | |
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The Johnson County Medical Examiner Department utilizes two primary autopsy consulting services: The
University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics Department of Pathology Autopsy Service in Iowa City (most
frequent), and the Iowa office of the State Medical Examiner in Ankeny. The Medical Examiner
Investigator will inform you where the autopsy will take place. |
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| Who may obtain copies of the autopsy report? | |
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The information contained within an autopsy report is confidential and treated as a medical record.
The final report is available at no charge to the immediate and legal next of kin (spouse, adult
child, parent, adult sibling, grandparent, guardian, in that order) and to those with written
permission from the next-of-kin. Others who may receive copies of the autopsy report include
treating physicians, law enforcement agencies and county attorneys investigating the death. The
cause and manner of death are public records and can be released unless release of such information
will jeopardize and investigation or pose a clear and present danger to the public safety or the
safety of an individual (Code of Iowa Chapter 22.7(41)). |
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| How may I obtain a copy of the autopsy report? | |
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There are three ways to request a copy of the final autopsy report: • Complete the Autopsy Report Request Form  and mail it to:913 S Dubuque Street Iowa City IA 52240 • Print and scan a completed copy of the Autopsy Report Request Form and e-mail it to: darla-luchtenburg@uiowa.edu • Call the Johnson County Medical Examiner Department at (319) 339-6197. If there is a request for a copy of the report from someone other than those legally entitled (e.g. insurance company or private attorney), the request must be submitted on their letterhead and include a “Release of Information” form signed by the legal next of kin. Also included should be a $20 check made payable to the Johnson County Medical Examiner Department. Autopsy reports will not be sent to funeral service providers. |
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| How long does it take to receive a copy of an autopsy report? | |
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It generally takes at least 30 days for the autopsy report to be available. However, this may
be extended should additional testing be ordered by the consulting pathologist. The issuance
of the death certificate may or may not be affected by any delay in the autopsy report. Every
effort is made to accurately complete the death certificate as soon as possible.
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| What is a death certificate and how do I obtain a copy? | |
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The death certificate is an official, legal document and vital record that is signed by a
licensed physician. It includes the decedent’s demographic data and states the cause and
manner of death. The death certificate provides legal proof that death has occurred. The
death certificate is needed to settle the estates of the deceased and provides information to
public health agencies at the local, state, and federal levels needed to track statistical
trends in health. These statistics are used to alert government health agencies of rising
trends in natural and infectious diseases, risky behaviors, and unsafe equipment and vehicles
which contribute to deaths. Our department cannot issue copies of death certificates. To obtain copies of the death certificate, please contact the funeral service provider you have chose to handle the services for your loved one. Death certificates of persons who die in Johnson County are filed in the Johnson County Recorder’s office. They can be contacted at (319) 356-6093. |
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