Coroners Don’t Need Degrees To Determine Death, adapted from an article written by Sandra Bartlett, for NPR
Dr. Marcella, former chief medical examiner in Virginia, is a member of the National Academies of Science panel that issued a report recommending an overhaul of the country’s death investigation systems. (emphasis added)
Dr. Fierro wrote an extensive report, A Need For Trained Practitioners that was published by NPR. In her narrative Dr. Fierro illustrates the discrepancies in autopsy reports.
“Most errors are buried,” she says. “If a death isn’t recognized as being suspicious or is suspicious, say, for violence and it’s released as natural death, [then] it’s buried or cremated,
whatever the family wishes, never to rise again.”Fierro sat on the blue ribbon panel when the National Academy of Sciences took a look at the death investigation system. The panel described coroners as the weak link.
“On their best day, if they do not have the training, the skills, the infrastructure, the facility, the access to forensic science, they can’t do a good job. It’s a question of competency. How can you train someone who is not a physician?”
Registered nurse, Amanda Powell worked many years in one of the nations busiest emergency rooms. Powell commented on the lack of qualification in the loosely organized and regulated death investigation industry where coroners are not required to have any degree in any subject matter.
“A medical degree isn’t absorbed through osmoses”, Ms. Powell stated, “it required years of study at a medical school, internship and work”.
Having spent years as an emergency room nurse, Ms. Powell said she has seen the good, the bad and the horrible, but nothing prepared her for the shock of learning there were states that do not require their coroner or medical examiner to be board certified medical doctors, pathologists and/or toxicologists. That these unqualified personnel are allowed to testify in court in homicide cases, declare manner and cause of death “two definitely different things”, according to Powell.
Then, there is the dilemma of diploma mills. For a small fee and sitting for a test, anyone who has a “currently valid, full and unrestricted license to practice medicine or osteopathy” can become ‘board certified’ in one or several fields. Such ‘boards’ offer board certification a variety of medical fields. These organizations do not require the applicant graduate from an approved medical school and have a diploma certifying additional training in their elected “expert field”.
“Until we see a complete overhaul of our country’s coroner system, thousands more innocent people will be wrongfully convicted for serious violent crimes. This will certainly weigh heavily in the debate over both the criminal DNA database and the abolition of the death penalty.”
From: Murder Trials May Be Corrupted By Bad Coroner Testimony – On behalf of Richard Arnold of The Law Offices of Richard P. Arnold posted in Violent Crimes on Thursday, February 3, 2011.
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Posted by curious57 on March 6, 2014 at 1:35 pm
I believe that the Southwest Inst of Forensic Science/Dallas, made an error in my son’s cause of death.
His ruling seems to be “The Gospel” and I don’t know how to amend this.
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Posted by Ray's Mom on March 6, 2014 at 3:08 pm
Good luck, I have been trying to have my son’s case re-opened for 7 years. Coroner’s/medical examiners answer to NO ONE other then themselves, there is no penalty when they make mistakes – even the ones that send innocents to jail or death and guilty go free to do the crime again and again.
Would like more details – if you care to send to me.
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Posted by curious57 on March 6, 2014 at 4:10 pm
This is the 8th year, on Feb 16.
http://www.realcrimes.com (Joshua Robinson) Attached documents.
After 5 years of researching, learning, and studying; I believe that Joshua was murdered by McGregor police.
Poor people get no justice!
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Posted by Ray's Mom on March 7, 2014 at 1:49 pm
thank you for this link. And, please stay in touch either here or on Facebook. Perhaps together we can get results.
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Posted by Ray's Mom on March 7, 2014 at 2:05 pm
Visited the site (real crimes). They are doing a grand service to the families of victims. I am working with several people hoping to find a brave congressman who will help. Again, please keep in touch
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Posted by curious57 on March 7, 2014 at 3:13 pm
I appreciate any and all help/advice/suggestions.
There is a story, out of Conroe, Texas, that a boy who was burned 13 years ago, died. Now, Murder charges are being brought against the perpetrator.
Does this challenge the ‘Statute of Limitations’ Law?
I believe, that as the mother of Joshua, and having to UNCOVER everything on my own, that there should be a precedent set on this issue.
Oh, facebook page?
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Posted by Ray's Mom on March 7, 2014 at 4:15 pm
This is interesting news….I will take a look at this. Yes, I made a page for Ray and one for me. Links.
https://www.facebook.com/shirley.sanservino that’s me
https://www.facebook.com/Ray2007 that’s Ray
Thank you so much for contacting me. I welcome any information you have on cases of coroner errors. God bless you and your family.
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Posted by curious57 on May 31, 2015 at 11:57 pm
Sign up for a Google alert/Medical Examiners rulings.
Unless you actually mean, Coroner, whom usually have NO medical training.
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Posted by curious57 on May 31, 2015 at 11:55 pm
Thank you so much.
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Posted by Death sentence by decapitation, and in USA | JUSTICE FOR RAYMOND on June 21, 2013 at 11:27 pm
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Posted by A change in direction | JUSTICE FOR RAYMOND on June 2, 2013 at 11:05 pm
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Posted by lenwilliamscarver on May 24, 2013 at 7:36 pm
Reblogged this on myownheart.me.
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Posted by lenwilliamscarver on May 24, 2013 at 7:36 pm
Such as the Vetrenarian that performed my murdered daughters autopsy
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Posted by Ray's Mom on May 24, 2013 at 7:42 pm
I thought of that one as I wrote my comments. with your permission I would like to post Klysta’s story on Denied-Justice.
God bless you and as I live and breathe there will be a solution to these corrupt politicians
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Posted by Ray's Mom on May 24, 2013 at 7:43 pm
thank you for reposting. The more exposure of these criminals, the better for our cause.
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Posted by lenwilliamscarver on May 24, 2013 at 9:17 pm
Yep you can post anything about my daughter except if you have them the autopsy photos those I need kept private, but thank you so much for all you have done and yes please maybe her story will help someone, somewhere. God bless you have a wonderful holiday weekend!
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Posted by Ray's Mom on May 24, 2013 at 9:46 pm
Thank you, I am beginning to work toward more exposure for all of us. God bless and you also have a wonderful holiday
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Posted by freethewronged on May 24, 2013 at 11:04 am
Reblogged this on Upside Down.
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Posted by Ray's Mom on May 24, 2013 at 4:07 pm
thank you for re-posting. It is a subject that I feel very strong about. God bless
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Posted by Ray's Mom on May 23, 2013 at 11:39 pm
Reblogged this on The Matter of Life and Death.
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