DEATH INVESTIGATION IN CANADA

A survey of death investigation systems in Canada was conducted by que stionnaire and included questions on the type of system used (coroner or medical examiner), budget, method of appointment and qualifications of coroners and medical examiners, responsible department of governme nt, training requirements, laboratory facilities, and the utilization of investigators and pathologists by each jurisdiction. Of the populat ion of Canada 81.5% reside in coroner jurisdictions, the primary death investigator in 81% of the population is a Licensed physician. The ma jority of jurisdictions either require or provide training in death in vestigation. All death investigation systems are under the respective provincial or territorial department of Justice or Attorney General wi th the chief coroner or chief medical examiner appointed by their resp ective provincial cabinet. The qualifications of the chief coroner var y with jurisdiction, while in 75% of medical examiner jurisdictions th e chief medical examiner must be a pathologist. On a per capita basis medical examiner systems are less expensive to operate than coroner sy stems.