What does a Coroner do?

According to people in this career, the main tasks are...

TaskImportance
Complete death certificates, including the assignment of cause and manner of death.
100%
Perform medicolegal examinations and autopsies, conducting preliminary examinations of the body to identify victims, locate signs of trauma, and identify factors that would indicate time of death.
100%
Interview persons present at death scenes to obtain information useful in determining the manner of death.
100%
Observe and record the positions and conditions of bodies and related evidence.
98%
Provide information concerning the circumstances of death to relatives of the deceased.
96%
Remove or supervise removal of bodies from death scenes, using the proper equipment and supplies, and arrange for transportation to morgues.
96%
Inquire into the cause, manner, and circumstances of human deaths and establish the identities of deceased persons.
96%
Observe, record, and preserve any objects or personal property related to deaths, including objects such as medication containers and suicide notes.
96%
Complete reports and forms required to finalize cases.
96%
Arrange for the next of kin to be notified of deaths.
95%
Locate and document information regarding the next of kin, including their relationship to the deceased and the status of notification attempts.
94%
Collect and document any pertinent medical history information.
94%
Inventory personal effects recovered from bodies, such as jewelry or wallets.
94%
Direct activities of workers conducting autopsies, performing pathological and toxicological analyses, and preparing documents for permanent records.
93%
Coordinate the release of personal effects to authorized persons and facilitate the disposition of unclaimed corpses and personal effects.
92%
Witness and certify deaths that are the result of a judicial order.
86%
Testify at inquests, hearings, and court trials.
84%
Confer with officials of public health and law enforcement agencies to coordinate interdepartmental activities.
80%
Record the disposition of minor children, as well as details of arrangements made for their care.
72%
Collect wills, burial instructions, and other documentation needed for investigations and for handling of the remains.
69%