Coroner is a public official who investigates the cause and manner of a person’s death in certain types of cases. Coroners investigate deaths from murders and suicides. Coroners also investigate unusual, sudden, or suspicious deaths for which the cause is unknown.
Local laws typically require a coroner to hold an inquest (legal hearing) for these types of deaths. The death of a person not attended (being treated) by a physician may also be investigated by a coroner. In many places, a coroner is required to investigate deaths that resulted from injuries such as those that might occur with a car accident. Such injuries are often referred to as traumatic injuries. Coroners are also often called upon to look into workplace accidents that ended in death or deaths that happened while a person was in the custody of the police. Today, coroners are used in Australia, China, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and many other countries.
Most coroners are elected to the position. In many areas, the only requirement for a coroner is election. In some U.S. states, suspicious deaths are investigated by a medical examiner appointed by a state or local government instead of an elected coroner. A medical examiner is usually a physician and often has special training in examining dead bodies.
The office of the coroner began in England in the 1100’s. Coroners at first served various legal purposes for the king, or the crown. The word coroner came from the word crown.
See also Medical examiner .
