Description
Investigate sudden, unexpected, or suspicious deaths by performing medicolegal autopsies and analyzing organs, tissues, and fluids to determine cause and manner of death; often serves as a medical examiner and provides expert testimony.
- • Perform medicolegal autopsies to determine cause and manner of death.
- • Attend or direct death-scene investigations and review scene findings.
- • Review cases by integrating autopsy, toxicology, histology, imaging, and investigative reports.
- • Collect, document, and preserve specimens and physical evidence, maintaining chain of custody.
- • Order and interpret toxicology, microbiology, and ancillary tests relevant to death investigation.
- • Examine gross and microscopic tissues to identify disease, injury, or intoxication.
- • Document injuries and disease with written descriptions and photographic records.
- • Prepare comprehensive autopsy reports and complete death certificates.
- • Testify in depositions or trials as an expert witness.
- • Communicate findings to law enforcement, prosecutors, public health officials, and families as appropriate.
- • Consult with investigators and attorneys on case interpretation and evidence needs.
- • Develop or validate forensic laboratory methods and adopt new technologies to improve determinations.
- • Manage morgue and forensic laboratory operations, safety, and accreditation compliance.
- • Plan and supervise the work of pathology staff, residents, and death investigators.
- • Educate residents, medical students, law enforcement, and medicolegal staff.
- • Conduct or collaborate on forensic research and present scientific findings.
- • Coordinate postmortem identification, including radiographs, fingerprints, dental comparison, and DNA testing.
- • Participate in mass fatality response planning and victim identification.
- • Maintain professional competence by reviewing current literature and participating in forensic organizations and conferences.
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Healthcare & Human Services
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Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
