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lacounty.gov Quick Links About Your Case FAQs Families Forensic Labs Forms Grief Resources Online Services Work with Us FAQs FAQs Glossary of Terms Tour Inquiry Fact Vs Fiction Our Services Our Process Families Law Enforcement/Legal Mortuaries Hospitals Landlords/Property Owners Media Case Information Case Search Form Unclaimed Persons Search Unidentified Persons Search Newsroom News/Announcements Press Releases Annual Reports/Stats Seminars/Workshops Gallery Media Information Work Opportunities Employment Pathology Fellowship Internships Volunteer Vendors About Us Vision & History Mission Statement Our Responsibility Department History Contact Us Accolades Accreditations Awards Affiliations Organization Medical Forensic Labs Operations Public Services Administration MENU Welcome The ME-Coroner's website is where you can learn about the department, your case, the services we provide and more. LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR PROCESS Our Mission Using forensic science to provide independent death investigation for communities and public health & safety, as well as reduce preventable deaths. LEARN MORE ABOUT US Case Search Unclaimed Persons Unidentified Persons Case Search Provide full or partial search input using the following fields: First Name Last Name Date of Birth Age Date of Death Case Number Search Reset Unclaimed Persons Leave search fields blank to list all persons or enter input to narrow results: First Name Last Name Case Number Search Reset Unidentified Persons Leave search fields blank to list all persons or enter input to narrow results: Case Number Select Gender --- Male Female Select Ethnicity --- Asian Black/African American Hispanic/Latino Native American Indian Some Other Race White Date Found Search Reset FAQs Families Forensic Labs Forms Case Search Grief Resources Online Services Work with Us News And Announcements January 22, 2020 2020 Skeletal Recovery Workshop 2020 Skeletal Recovery Workshop https://mec.lacounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Skeletal-Recovery-1024x683.jpg 1024 683 Medical Examiner-Coroner Medical Examiner-Coroner https://mec.lacounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Skeletal-Recovery-1024x683.jpg January 22, 2020 January 22, 2020 The Skeletal Recovery Workshop is a 40-hour course that includes detailed lectures and hands-on field exercises. October 16, 2018 Medical Examiner-Coroner Colleagues Publish New Textbook Medical Examiner-Coroner Colleagues Publish New Textbook https://mec.lacounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Multidisciplinary-Medico-Legal-Death-Investigation_textbook.jpg 736 492 Medical Examiner-Coroner Medical Examiner-Coroner https://mec.lacounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Multidisciplinary-Medico-Legal-Death-Investigation_textbook.jpg October 16, 2018 October 16, 2018 On July 2, 2018, Lakshmanan Sathyavagiswaran, M.D. and Christopher Rogers, M.D. published Multidisciplinary Medico-legal Death Investigation: Role of Consultants, which… April 7, 2018 Lucas Named New L.A. County Medical Examiner-Coroner Lucas Named New L.A. County Medical Examiner-Coroner https://mec.lacounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/BCA_9363-2-1024x682.jpg 1024 682 Medical Examiner-Coroner Medical Examiner-Coroner https://mec.lacounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/BCA_9363-2-1024x682.jpg April 7, 2018 February 4, 2019 The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Tuesday appointed Dr. Jonathan Lucas as the County’s new Medical Examiner-Coroner to lead one of the busiest and most high profile offices of its kind in the nation. April 5, 2018 Contracting Opportunity: Physician Forensic Pathologist Services Contracting Opportunity: Physician Forensic Pathologist Services https://mec.lacounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/pathologist_services.jpg 736 492 Medical Examiner-Coroner Medical Examiner-Coroner https://mec.lacounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/pathologist_services.jpg April 5, 2018 May 8, 2018 Contracting Opportunity: Physician Forensic Pathologist Services The Department has released a Request for Statement of Qualifications (RFSQ) seeking qualified forensic… April 4, 2018 2016 WCTC Event Pictures 2016 WCTC Event Pictures https://mec.lacounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/wctc-event-2016-img.jpg 736 492 Medical Examiner-Coroner Medical Examiner-Coroner https://mec.lacounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/wctc-event-2016-img.jpg April 4, 2018 September 13, 2019 Photos from the 2016 West Coast Training Conference See More News Contact Information Medical Examiner-Coroner 1104 N. Mission Road Los Angeles, CA 90033 Monday - Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm (323) 343-0512 After Business Hours: (323) 343-0714 Enriching lives . . . . DO YOU NEED HELP? 211 LA County LA County Helps Public Alerts SITE INFO Tell Us What You Think Accessibility Disclaimer Language Privacy Policy GENERAL Feedback Department Information Pamphlet Department Information Pamphlet-Spanish Sheriff's Office Public Health POPULAR LINKS Biohazard Cleanup License Verification - Cemetery and Funeral Bureau Safe Sleep for Baby NAMUS YDDVP Adobe Reader © 2018 County of Los Angeles Glossary of Terms Autopsy also known as a post-mortem examination, necropsy (particularly as to non-human bodies), autopsia cadaverum, or obduction — is a highly specialized surgical procedure that consists of a thorough examination of a corpse to determine the cause and manner of death and to evaluate any disease or injury that may be present. It is usually performed by a specialized medical doctor called a pathologist. Biological specimens blood, sections of organs, vitreous, bile, and urine. Cause of death an injury or disease that ultimately leads to death of the individual, generally determined by medical examiners or coroners. Certificate of Religious Belief in California, in order to execute a certificate of religious belief, a person must be 18 years of age or older and must state in clear and unambiguous language that any postmortem anatomical dissection or that specified procedures would violate the religious convictions of the person. The certificate must be signed and dated by the person in the presence of at least two witnesses. Each witness must also sign the certificate and must print on the certificate his or her name and residence address. California law allows the state to override religious objection if the coroner "has a reasonable suspicion that the death was caused by the criminal act of another or by a contagious disease constituting a public health hazard." Chain of custody a method of keeping track of who has handled a piece of evidence and when. Class A type autopsy is a complete autopsy of a complex case, including the following types of cases: homicide or suspected homicide, undetermined mode of death, hit-and-run accident, sudden infant death, officer-involved death, death in custody or during involuntary psychiatric hospitalization, unidentified decedents, therapeutic misadventures, and skeletonized remains, or any autopsy that takes more than 3 hours. Class B type autopsy is a complete autopsy of a less complex case, for example: natural disease, overdose cases hospitalized less than 24 hours, traffic death with charges, except hit-and-run cases, death at work, except natural deaths where there is a clear history of serious disease, electrocution, unwitnessed drowning, and fire deaths. Class C type autopsy is a limited autopsy including dissection and evaluation of internal organs for pathology. For example: opening the chest for bullet recovery, contagious disease, religious objection to a complete autopsy, or a partial autopsy where the brain is examined for possible non-homicidal head trauma. Class D type autopsy is an external examination, with incisions only for collection of toxicology specimens, small biopsy of an external lesion, or a skin incision for bullet removal. For example: hanging, except hanging in custody, suicidal gunshot wounds without bullet recovery, traffic accidents without charges, natural death of males 50 and over or females 60 and o...