Two roles that often get mistaken for one another in death investigations are the coroner and the pathologist. Both professionals are essential when it comes to determining the cause of someone’s death, but how they do their job, their qualifications, and their approaches differ slightly. 

Understanding the difference between the two can be essential when you’re dealing with both upon the death of a loved one. 

Difference between coroner and pathologist

Coroner’s Duties

While sometimes called a medical examiner, a coroner is not one. A coroner has a specific role in investigating a death that occurs under certain circumstances. Their responsibilities go far beyond a standard medical examination, encompassing administrative and legal duties. 

Death Investigation

One of the most important duties of a coroner is the death investigation. They only investigate deaths in their jurisdiction, and their duties usually include: 

  • Suspicious Deaths: Where the circumstances surrounding the death raise questions or are unclear. 
  • Unnatural Deaths: Suicides, accidents, and homicides. 
  • Deaths in Custody: People who die while they’re in prison or police custody. 
  • Sudden Deaths: Unexpected deaths where the cause of death isn’t obvious right away. 
  • Public Health Concerns: Deaths that pose a threat to public health. 

The coroner will be notified and start their investigation when any of the above deaths happen. The investigation involves collecting information from different sources: 

  • Medical records
  • Law enforcement reports
  • Physical evidence from the scene
  • Witness statements

Coroners can also order additional examinations and tests to gather more information that will help them determine the circumstances of the death. 

Cause and Manner of Death

After the death investigation, the coroner’s primary duty is to determine the cause and manner of the event. The cause of death refers to the specific medical reason that the person died, such as a gunshot wound or stroke. The manner of death refers to the circumstances surrounding the death of someone. There are five categories that a manner of death can fall under: 

  • Homicide
  • Suicide 
  • Accident
  • Natural
  • Undetermined

Throughout their death investigation, coroners might work closely with pathologists, also known as medical examiners, to arrive at their conclusions. 

Medical Examiner System

Not every jurisdiction will use a coroner system but a medical examiner system instead. The main differences between these two systems are: 

  • Qualifications: Medical examiners must be licensed physicians with training in forensic pathology, whereas coroners don’t necessarily have to have medical training. 
  • Appointment v. Election: Government officials usually appoint medical examiners, while coroners are elected in their jurisdictions. 
  • Jurisdiction: Medical examiner systems usually cover larger areas, such as an entire state or large county. Coroners might be more localized. 
  • Focus: Coroners usually have administrative and legal responsibilities in addition to the medical aspects that a medical examiner might have. 

Both roles will serve the same purpose: investigating deaths and determining their cause and manner. Which one you’ll have will depend on your area’s historical precedent, resources, and laws. 

Pathologist’s Duties

Pathologists, sometimes called medical examiners or forensic pathologists, focus strictly on the medical aspect of a death investigation. They’ve been to medical school, are licensed physicians, and have extensive knowledge of human anatomy and disease processes. 

Autopsy Performance

Unlike a coroner, a medical examiner’s primary duty is to perform an autopsy. Autopsies provide a detailed examination of the body after death. This process involves: 

  • Internal Exam: Opening the body cavities to thoroughly examine the internal organs and tissues. 
  • External Exam: Inspecting the exterior of a body for signs of disease, injury, or abnormalities. 
  • Microscopic Exam: Collecting tissue samples under a microscope to look for cellular changes or disease processes. 
  • Toxicology Testing: Analyzing bodily fluids and tissues to check for the presence of alcohol, drugs, or other toxic substances. 

A medical investigation will help pathologists provide the cause of death when it’s not apparent from just looking at the body alone. Even if the cause of death seems apparent, an autopsy will confirm those suspicions or provide another answer. 

Forensic Pathology

Forensic pathology is a specialized branch of pathology. Forensic pathologists focus on the cause of death for legal reasons, usually in suspicious death or homicide investigations. They will be called to perform autopsies when criminal activity is involved or suspected to be involved. 

Most forensic pathologists work closely with law enforcement, and their duties might include the following: 

  • Performing autopsies in cases of homicide and other criminal acts
  • Examining crime scenes to collect evidence
  • Providing expert testimony in court about their findings
  • Collaborating with law enforcement and legal professionals in criminal investigations

A forensic pathologist is a critical component of the criminal justice system. They provide evidence that might not otherwise be found when investigating crimes. 

Medical Expertise

Pathology is a medical specialty, so anyone pursuing this profession must attend medical school and a pathology fellowship. Those who want to pursue forensics will go through schooling but then apply for a forensic pathology fellowship. Whether someone pursues a career as a medical examiner or forensic pathologist, their expertise includes: 

  • Knowledge of a wide range of diseases and how they affect the body
  • In-depth understanding of human physiology and anatomy
  • Ability to interpret complex medical data and laboratory results
  • Familiarity with injury patterns and how they relate to different deaths

This extensive knowledge and medical training allow them to spot subtle clues that might not be picked up during postmortem examinations. 

Coroner vs. Pathologist: Key Differences

Although a coroner and a pathologist play significant roles in a death investigation, they have a few differences. 

Legal vs. Medical Role

As death investigators, the main difference between a medical examiner or pathologist and a coroner is the nature of their roles: 

  • Coroners: They serve more of a legal and administrative function. They’re responsible for the overall death investigation, such as determining whether an autopsy is necessary, deciding whether to hold an inquest and issuing death certificates. 
  • Pathologists: They focus on the medical side of the death investigation and determine the medical cause of death through scientific analysis and examination. 

A coroner often acts as the bridge between the legal system and the medical findings. A pathologist provides the medical details that inform the legal processes. 

Scope of Investigations

The types of deaths that medical examiners and coroners investigate differ, too: 

  • Coroners: They investigate deaths that fall under categories defined by law, such as sudden, unexpected, or suspicious deaths. This includes deaths that happen in custody or pose a public health risk. 
  • Medical Examiners: Involved in investigating deaths from a wider range of causes, such as those that happen in hospitals due to natural causes and those investigated by coroners. 

Qualifications

The educational and professional qualifications that a coroner and medical examiner have differ: 

  • Coroners: Some jurisdictions have an elected coroner who might not need legal or medical training, whereas others might have these requirements. 
  • Pathologists: Typically, a medical doctor has completed specialized training in pathology. Forensic pathologists have even more training and typically have a medical degree (MD or DO), residency in anatomic pathology, and fellowship in pathology, and are board-certified in both.  

The Importance of Both Roles

Despite being different, both roles are vital in forensic sciences. Their collaboration is crucial for a thorough and accurate investigation. 

Justice and Public Safety

Coroners and pathologists are fundamental in ensuring justice and maintaining public health because they: 

  • Provide critical evidence in criminal cases to help exonerate the innocent and convict the guilty. 
  • Reveal safety hazards that can lead to workplace and public infrastructure improvements. 
  • Identify trends in the cause of death that public health issues like disease outbreaks might cause. 
  • Provide closure for families who are unsure about their loved one’s cause or manner of death. 
  • Contribute to medical research. 

Legal Implications of Coroner and Pathologist Findings

There are many legal implications for coroners and pathologists, specifically forensic pathologists, findings. 

Evidence in Court

Reports and testimony from these professionals can be crucial in legal proceedings: 

  • Civil Lawsuits: In medical malpractice or wrongful death lawsuits, their opinions are vital in establishing liability. 
  • Criminal Trials: In homicide cases, their findings can provide scientific evidence for a manner of death. 
  • Worker’s Compensation: In workplace fatalities, they can influence decisions about compensation for the deceased’s family. 
  • Insurance Claims: This can affect the life insurance payout for families when the manner of death is in question. 

Determining Liability

A coroner and medical examiner are essential when proving liability in many cases: 

  • Pre-Existing Conditions: The internal and external physical examination will reveal any pre-existing conditions contributing to someone’s death, affecting liability. 
  • Cause of Death: Establishes the reason for someone’s death and an injury or fault. 
  • Timing of Injuries: They can determine when the injuries happened, proving whether someone was liable. 
  • How the Injury Occurred: How the injury happened will prove negligence or misconduct. 

Secure Expert Legal Counsel! 

Consulting an attorney is a good idea if you’re somehow involved in a case where you need to understand the difference between a coroner, forensic pathologist, or standard pathologist. The legal team at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers has ample experience working with both professionals and will be there to guide you through the legal process. 

You don’t have to navigate these legal waters alone. Call us at (888) 424-5757 for a free consultation or fill out our contact form to book a free consultation with a Chicago wrongful death lawyer.