Michigan

Is medical death investigation system centralized, county-based, or district-based?
County-based. Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. § 52.201.

If centralized, in which department or agency is the system housed?
Not applicable.

Does the state system have a coroner, medical examiner, or coroners and medical examiners?
Medical examiner. Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. § 52.201.

“In practice” notes
None.

Is there a state medical examiner?
No.

If so, what is the state medical examiner’s role?
Not applicable.

In what department or agency is the state medical examiner’s office located?
Not applicable.

Are there deputies?
The county board of commissioners may appoint as a deputy county medical examiner any person meeting the qualifications as required by this section and approved by the county medical examiner. Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. § 52.201a.

In counties having a civil service system the county medical examiner shall appoint the deputy medical examiners. Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. § 52.201d.

If so, what are the deputies’ roles?
Any deputy coroner shall have power to perform any and all duties of the coroner. Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. § 52.114.

The county medical examiner may delegate any functions of that office to a duly appointed deputy county medical examiner if the deputy county medical examiner is a licensed physician. If the deputy county medical examiner is not a licensed physician, his or her functions are limited as provided by law. Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. § 52.201c.

What are the qualifications for deputies?
Deputy county medical examiners shall be physicians licensed to practice within this state. Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. § 52.201a.

Is the coroner or medical examiner position elected?
No. Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. § 52.201.

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

What are the qualifications specified by law?
County medical examiners shall be physicians licensed to practice within this state or, if the county does not have an accredited hospital, licensed in another state that borders the county. Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. § 52.201.

What types of deaths are required to be investigated?
Sec. 2. (1) A county medical examiner or deputy county medical examiner shall investigate the cause and manner of death of an individual under each of the following circumstances:

(a) The individual dies by violence.

(b) The individual’s death is unexpected.

(c) The individual dies without medical attendance by a physician, or the individual dies while under home hospice care without medical attendance by a physician or a registered nurse, during the 48 hours immediately preceding the time of death, unless the attending physician, if any, is able to determine accurately the cause of death.

(d) The individual dies as the result of an abortion, whether self-induced or otherwise.

(2) If a prisoner in a county or city jail dies while imprisoned, the county medical examiner or deputy county medical examiner, upon being notified of the death of the prisoner, shall examine the body of the deceased prisoner.

Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. § 52.202.

What types of deaths are required to be autopsied?
The county medical examiner may perform or direct to be performed an autopsy . . . Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. § 52.205.

Does the state require that pathologists perform the autopsies?
No.