Connecticut

Is medical death investigation system centralized, county-based, or district-based?
Centralized. Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 19a-406.

If centralized, in which department or agency is the system housed?
University of Connecticut Health Center/Commission on Medicolegal Investigations. Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 19a-402; Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 19a-403.

Does the state system have a coroner, medical examiner, or coroners and medical examiners?
Medical examiner. Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 19a-406.

“In practice” notes
None.

Is there a state medical examiner?
Yes. Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 19a-403.

If so, what is the state medical examiner’s role?
(a) Investigation of human deaths in accordance with subsections (a) and (c) of Section 19a-406.

(b) Appointment, with the Commission’s approval, of a deputy chief medical examiner to act on behalf of the chief medical examiner in the chief’s absence, and other professional staff in accordance with Section 19a-405 of the Connecticut General Statutes and Section 19a-401-3 of these regulations;

(c) Designation of certified pathologists in accordance with Section 19a-406 (b) of the Connecticut General Statutes;

(d) Removal of assistant medical examiners, in accordance with Section 19a-401-7 of these regulations;

(e) Development of continuing medical education, in accordance with Section 19a-401-5 of these regulations;

(f) Development of an organizational chart, including written definition of the duties and responsibilities of all personnel classifications;

(g) Research in pathology.

Conn. Agencies Regs. § 19a-401-4.

In what department or agency is the state medical examiner’s office located?
University of Connecticut Health Center/Commission on Medicolegal Investigations. Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 19a-402; Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 19a-403.

Are there deputies?
The Chief Medical Examiner, with the approval of the Commission on Medicolegal Investigations, shall appoint a deputy . . . Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 19a-405.

If so, what are the deputies’ roles?
[P]erform all the duties of the Chief Medical Examiner in case of his or her sickness or absence . . . Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 19a-405.

What are the qualifications for deputies?
The commission in advance of appointments shall specify the qualifications required for each position in terms of education, experience and other relevant considerations. Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 19a-405.

Each assistant medical examiner and designated certified pathologist shall attend annually at least six hours of continuing medical education in forensic medicine . . . Conn. Agencies Regs. § 19a-401-5.

Is the coroner or medical examiner position elected?
No. Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 19a-403.

If so, how many years is the term of office?
Not applicable.

What are the qualifications specified by law?
The Chief Medical Examiner shall be a citizen of the United States and a doctor of medicine licensed to practice medicine in Connecticut and shall have had a minimum of four years postgraduate training in pathology and such additional subsequent experience in forensic pathology as the commission may determine, provided any person otherwise qualified who is not licensed to so practice may be appointed Chief Medical Examiner, provided he or she obtains such a license within one year of his or her appointment. Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 19a-404.

The chief medical examiner shall meet all qualifications specified in Section 19a-404 of the Connecticut General Statutes and shall be certified by the American Board of Pathology in forensic pathology. Conn. Agencies Regs. § 19a-401-3.

What types of deaths are required to be investigated?
(1) Violent deaths, whether apparently homicidal, suicidal or accidental, including but not limited to deaths due to thermal, chemical, electrical or radiational injury and deaths due to criminal abortion, whether apparently self-induced or not;

(2) sudden or unexpected deaths not caused by readily recognizable disease;

(3) deaths under suspicious circumstances;

(4) deaths of persons whose bodies are to be cremated, buried at sea or otherwise disposed of so as to be thereafter unavailable for examination;

(5) deaths related to disease resulting from employment or to accident while employed;

(6) deaths related to disease which might constitute a threat to public health.

Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 19a-406.

What types of deaths are required to be autopsied?
The Chief Medical Examiner may require autopsies in connection with deaths in the preceding categories when it appears warranted for proper investigation and, in the opinion of the Chief Medical Examiner, the Deputy Chief Medical Examiner, an associate medical examiner or an authorized assistant medical examiner, an autopsy is necessary . . . Any state’s attorney or assistant state’s attorney shall have the right to require an autopsy by a pathologist so designated in any case in which there is a suspicion that death resulted from a criminal act. Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 19a-406.

Does the state require that pathologists perform the autopsies?
Yes, the autopsy shall be performed at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner or by a designated pathologist at a community hospital. Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 19a-406.