Orange County SheriffCoroner Coroners Division

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Orange County Sheriff-CoronerCoroners Division

• Mitchell D. Sigal
• Supervising Deputy Coroner
• mdsigal_at_ocsd.org
• [phone]

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Presentation Outline

• Role of the Coroner
• Coroner Laws
• Next of Kin
• Cause (Mode) and Manner of death
• Property and Evidence
• Organ and Tissue harvesting
• Heads Up call
• Case studies

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The Deputy Coroner
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Role of the Coroner

• Document the End of Life
• Identification of the decedent
• Notification of the next of kin
• Determine and support a Mode and Manner of death
• Safeguard personal property
• Collect evidence
• Arrange for the disposition of the remains

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Coroner Laws

• California Government Code
• 27491
• California Penal Code
• 642
• 830.35 (c)
• Health and Safety
• 151
• 7180
• 102825
• 102850
• California Civil Codes
• 56.10 (b) (8)

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Document the End of Life
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Identification
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Next of Kin (NOK)

• DPOA
• Spouse
• Children (adult/minor)
• Parents
• Sibling

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Cause and Manner of Death

• Natural
• Accident
• Suicide
• Homicide
• Undetermined

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Investigation
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Body Examination
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Property and Evidence
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Suggestions for a Coroners case

• Do not make any promises such as
• You can see the decedent
• An autopsy is not necessary
• You can stay in the decedents residence
• You can see the decedent at the Coroners Office
• The Coroner will come out and clean your house

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Interviews

• Do not interject during an interview unless asked
• The deputy coroner decides when and who gets
  interviewed
• Do not get offended if you are asked to leave
• Try to avoid questioning the family prior to the
  Coroners arrival

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Organ and Tissue HarvestingFrequently requested
organs and tissues

• Heart
• Lung
• Liver
• Kidney
• Small bowel

• Corneas
• Eyes
• Skin
• Bone
• Saphenous veins

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No NOK

• The Coroner MAY authorize the donation of any
  organs without the consent of the legal next of
  kin.
• (This is evaluated on a case by case basis)

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High Profile Cases

• Child/Elder Abuse cases
• In-Custody/OIS
• There are no two cases that are the same.

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Heads Up Call

• First Pronouncement
• Second Pronouncement
• R/Ps information
• Hospital name
• Contact number/Pgr
• Decedents name
• Decedents DOB
• Marital status

• Admit time and date
• Admit dx
• Surgeries
• Brief circs
• Police agency/contact
• Organs requested
• Lab/diagnostic results
• Other trauma
• Family consent

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Case Studies

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Questions