Medicolegal Death Investigator

Medical-Legal Death Investigator

Provide comprehensive medical-legal examinations and timely and accurate collection of forensic evidence. Collaborate with physicians, local law enforcement, county prosecutors, and victim advocates to ensure proper care of decedents. Secure and maintain chain of evidence.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities (Illustrative Only. Any single position in this classification will not necessarily involve all the listed duties below and other positions will involve duties which are not listed. These duties represent the essential functions needed of persons in this classification.)

1. At the direction of the Lead MDI, conduct investigations of deaths; take custody of the body and personal effects of the deceased; assist local law enforcement to preserve evidence; obtain medical history and other information relevant to the death; contact co-workers, funeral homes, hospitals, law enforcement agencies, District Attorney's office, relatives, and public to aid in the resolution of questionable deaths.
2. Examine body and environment of the scene of a death; determine approximate time of death, cause and manner of death; participate in autopsy; use sound judgement and precautions in situations where personal health and safety may be compromised such as exposure to contagious diseases.
3. Notify next of kin and relatives of death; interview witnesses and relatives; arrange for disposition of body; answer questions from family, public, and/or media.
4. Ensure chain of evidence is accurately and properly collected, recorded, and maintained.
5. Maintain records and generate necessary investigative reports relating to deaths.
6. Testify in court as needed.
7. Other duties as assigned.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Education and experience in addition to initial satisfactory completion of the State Medical Examiner's MDI training and maintaining that certification, experience investigating deaths and/or in the medical profession, while not required, are preferred. Also not required, but recommended, is membership and certification from the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators. General knowledge of medical terminology and anatomy is required. General knowledge of prescription medications/illicit drugs and disease process is preferred.

This position requires working relationships with district attorneys from both within and outside the office, members of the defense bar, jurors, witnesses, healthcare agencies, multi-disciplinary team members, DHS, and Mental Health agencies. Will be working with members of law enforcement, family members of decedents, the local funeral homes, local health department, emergency dispatchers, newspaper/local media staff, and local medical providers. This position requires working with next of kin who can be highly emotional, upset, and angry, and therefore this position requires the ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing, and ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with physicians, law enforcement, funeral homes, and other health care providers, medical supply companies, State Public Health Division providers.

The use of medical instruments/equipment and assessment tools. Ability to manage primary and secondary stress due to exposure to both death scenes and abuse victims. Ability to obtain Oregon Certified Medicolegal Death Investigator status within one year of hire. Must maintain said certification throughout duration of employment.

Those employed in this position may be subject to pre-employment drug testing and a background investigation including but not limited to criminal background investigation. Conviction of a crime will not necessarily disqualify an individual for this classification. Must pass and maintain Criminal Justice Information Systems (CJIS) security clearance. This position requires working on highways, areas of illegal activity, homicide scenes, decomp exposure, day or night. Employees in this classification are at risk for exposure to communicable diseases, including blood-borne diseases. The position is impacted by the necessity of meeting timelines established by the law, uncontrollable workflow, the need to make immediate decisions regarding medical assessments, the need for extreme accuracy in giving injections and dispensing medications, and uncontrollable interruptions. The position is on-call to respond to death investigations. Investigations are conducted indoors and outdoors in all weather conditions.