Vermont

Is medical death investigation system centralized, county-based, or district-based?
Centralized. 18 Vt. Stat. Ann. § 507.

If centralized, in which department or agency is the system housed?
Department of Health. 18 Vt. Stat. Ann. § 507.

Does the state system have a coroner, medical examiner, or coroners and medical examiners?
Medical examiner. 18 Vt. Stat. Ann. § 507.

“In practice” notes
None.

Is there a state medical examiner?
Yes. 18 Vt. Stat. Ann. § 507.

If so, what is the state medical examiner’s role?
When a superior judge or the attorney general orders an autopsy on the body of a person, as provided in section 504 of this title, he shall therein direct that such autopsy shall be made by the chief medical examiner, or under his direction, unless, for good cause shown, such judge or the attorney general otherwise directs. 18 Vt. Stat. Ann. § 505.

At such autopsy, the chief medical examiner shall take and preserve under proper seal, such portions of the body and its contents, together with such other articles as he judges may require subsequent examination in the investigation of the case . . . 18 Vt. Stat. Ann. § 506.

Upon the petition of the state’s attorney, a superior judge or the attorney general may order an autopsy or exhumation and autopsy to be performed by the chief medical examiner or under his or her direction in the preparation of a state cause for trial in any court, or in the interest of public health, welfare or safety or in the furtherance of the administration of the law. Upon completion of the autopsy the chief medical examiner shall submit a report to the state’s attorney and shall complete and sign a certificate of death. Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 13, § 5162.

In what department or agency is the state medical examiner’s office located?
Department of Health. 18 Vt. Stat. Ann. § 507.

Are there deputies?
(a) The chief medical examiner may appoint regional medical examiners, who shall be licensed doctors of medicine or osteopathy geographically distributed throughout the state.

(b) The chief medical examiner may appoint assistant medical examiners to assist in performing the duties of the medical examiner . . . An assistant medical examiner shall serve at the pleasure of and be under the direction and supervision of the chief medical examiner. The chief medical examiner may assign assistant medical examiners to work under the supervision of a regional medical examiner. An assistant medical examiner shall not perform autopsies except within their defined scope of practice.

18 Vt. Stat. Ann. § 508.

If so, what are the deputies’ roles?
[A]ssistant medical examiners [are] to assist in performing the duties of the medical examiner. 18 V.S.A. § 508.

What are the qualifications for deputies?
(a) [R]egional medical examiners . . . shall be licensed doctors of medicine or osteopathy . . . licensed in Vermont or in another state.

(b) An assistant medical examiner shall be an individual with extensive experience in the medical profession which may include medicine, nursing, emergency medical work, or any other medical profession deemed by the chief medical examiner to provide sufficient health care experience, including an individual licensed in a medical profession in another state.

(c) An assistant medical examiner shall meet the training and certification requirements established by the chief medical examiner and approved by the commissioner.

Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 18, § 508.

Is the coroner or medical examiner position elected?
No. 18 Vt. Stat. Ann. § 507.

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

What are the qualifications specified by law?
The state board of health may contract with any person, institution, or state department for the performance of any or all of the duties of the chief medical examiner. 18 Vt. Stat. Ann. § 507.

What types of deaths are required to be investigated?
When a person dies from violence, or suddenly when in apparent good health or when unattended by a physician or a recognized practitioner of a well-established church, or by casualty, or by suicide or as a result of injury or when in jail or prison, or any mental institution, or in any unusual, unnatural or suspicious manner, or in circumstances involving a hazard to public health, welfare or safety . . . [t]he medical examiner and a designated law enforcement officer shall thereupon together immediately make a proper preliminary investigation. Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 18, § 5205.

What types of deaths are required to be autopsied?
The state’s attorney or chief medical examiner, if either deem it necessary and in the interest of public health, welfare and safety, or in furtherance of the administration of the law, may order an autopsy to be performed by the chief medical examiner or under his or her direction. Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 18, § 5205.

Upon the petition of the state’s attorney, a superior judge or the attorney general may order an autopsy or exhumation and autopsy to be performed by the chief medical examiner or under his or her direction in the preparation of a state cause for trial in any court, or in the interest of public health, welfare or safety or in the furtherance of the administration of the law. Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 13, § 5162.

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