Cooperation with these procedures is both necessary and appreciated. After Medical Examiner's investigators receive notification of a death, they are dispatched to take jurisdiction and transport the body. A minimum of one investigator is available 24 hours per day. Occasionally, due to multiple calls in rapid succession, an investigator will not be immediately available to respond to the hospital. The person making notification of death should ask if delay is anticipated.
Residential deaths take priority over hospital deaths.
This is because hospitals have the staff to care for a body, which is often not possible at a residence. Medical Examiner investigators will, upon request by hospital personnel, delay their response for up to an hour. Hospital personnel should also inform family members that the Medical Examiner's Office will be contacting them for information necessary for death certification. To this end, whenever possible, hospital personnel should ask responsible family member to remain at the hospital until arrival of Medical Examiner investigators. All information is general in nature and is not intended to be used as a substitute for appropriate professional advice.