Oklahoma

Is medical death investigation system centralized, county-based, or district-based?
Centralized. Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 63, § 937.

If centralized, in which department or agency is the system housed?
Board of Medicolegal Investigations. Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 63, § 933.

Does the state system have a coroner, medical examiner, or coroners and medical examiners?
Medical examiner. Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 63, § 937.

“In practice” notes
None.

Is there a state medical examiner?
Yes. Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 63, § 934.

If so, what is the state medical examiner’s role?
The Chief Medical Examiner shall be directly responsible to the Board for the performance of the duties provided for in this act and for the administration of the office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 63, § 935.

The Chief Medical Examiner or his designee may, in his discretion, conduct the investigation as herein specified, or relieve the medical examiner at any stage of the investigation, and the medical examiner shall thereafter be responsible only for such specific duties as the Chief Medical Examiner or his designee may assign. Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 63, § 943.

When properly authorized, an autopsy shall be performed by the Chief Medical Examiner or such person as may be designated by him for such purpose. Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 63, § 945.

In what department or agency is the state medical examiner’s office located?
Board of Medicolegal Investigations. Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 63, § 933.

Are there deputies?
The Chief Medical Examiner may, however, delegate specific duties to competent and qualified deputies who may act for the Chief Medical Examiner within the scope of the express authority granted by the Chief Medical Examiner, subject, however, to such rules as the Board may prescribe. Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 63, § 935.

If so, what are the deputies’ roles?
[D]eputies . . . may act for the Chief Medical Examiner within the scope of the express authority granted by the Chief Medical Examiner, subject, however, to such rules as the Board may prescribe. Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 63, § 935.

What are the qualifications for deputies?
Unspecified.

Is the coroner or medical examiner position elected?
No. Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 63, § 937.

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

What are the qualifications specified by law?
Chief Medical Examiner . . . shall be a physician licensed to practice in Oklahoma and a diplomate of the American Board of Pathology or the American Osteopathic Board of Pathology in forensic pathology. Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 63, § 934.

Each medical examiner so appointed shall be a Doctor of Medicine or Osteopathy and Surgery, [and] shall hold a valid license to practice his profession in Oklahoma . . . Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 63, § 937.

What types of deaths are required to be investigated?
A. All human deaths of the types listed herein shall be investigated as provided by law:

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. Deaths under suspicious, unusual or unnatural circumstances;

3. Deaths related to disease which might constitute a threat to public health;

4. Deaths unattended by a licensed medical or osteopathic physician for a fatal or potentially-fatal illness;

5. Deaths of persons after unexplained coma;

6. Deaths that are medically unexpected and that occur in the course of a therapeutic procedure;

7. Deaths of any inmates occurring in any place of penal incarceration; and

8. Deaths of persons whose bodies are to be cremated, buried at sea, transported out of the state, or otherwise made ultimately unavailable for pathological study.

Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 63, § 938.

Upon receipt of notice of death of any person which under this act is subject to investigation, the medical examiner shall immediately conduct an investigation into the cause and manner of death . . . Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 63, § 941.

What types of deaths are required to be autopsied?
When necessary in connection with an investigation to determine the cause and/or manner of death and when the public interest requires it, the Chief Medical Examiner, his designee, a medical examiner or a district attorney shall require and authorize an autopsy to be conducted. In determining whether the public interest requires an autopsy the medical examiner or district attorney involved shall take into account but shall not be bound by request therefor from private persons or from other public officials. Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 63, § 944.

When properly authorized, an autopsy shall be performed by the Chief Medical Examiner or such person as may be designated by him for such purpose. Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 63, § 945.

Does the state require that pathologists perform the autopsies?
Yes. When properly authorized, an autopsy shall be performed by the Chief Medical Examiner or such person as may be designated by him for such purpose. Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 63, § 945.

Where, in the opinion of the Chief Medical Examiner, it is necessary to designate a consultant pathologist to perform an autopsy, such pathologist shall be entitled to a reasonable fee. Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 63, § 948.