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Misconceptions abound regarding the role of medicolegal death investigation (MDI) professionals, particularly the pervasive belief that they solely work with and for the deceased. This perception often leads to a public reluctance in engaging with medical examiner and coroner (MEC) systems, especially from stakeholders who hold the proverbial purse strings. The reality is, MDI data impacts the living, from assisting grieving families to influencing public health at regional and even national levels.

Identifying, locating, and notifying next-of-kin (NOK) is an essential duty of Medicolegal Death Investigators (MDIs). Without NOK the decedent’s affairs will not be settled and the disposition of remains will be delayed. Often NOK are present at the time of death or have been notified by hospital staff or other agencies. However, when NOK is not immediately obvious, it becomes challenging for MDIs to notify them. This webinar guides MDIs through some helpful search methods used to locate and notify NOK.

This session busts the myth that new toxicology screening tools can fully replace traditional toxicology testing. The session discusses the appropriate integration of current rapid toxicology screening tools into MEC offices as a method of triaging cases, rather than a determination of toxicology related causes of deaths.

When working within a coroner or medical examiner’s office, engaging with the bereaved is a daily task. While this task can sometimes feel monotonous or routine, this webinar challenges this myth and shows that it should be anything but. It provides insight on the importance of a trauma informed approach to supporting all grieving individuals. It discusses the value of collaborating with trained professionals, such as victim advocates, and lessons learned from the presenters’ combined years of experience working with people experiencing trauma.