Pierce County
Position Description
Name: |
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Department: |
Law Enforcement |
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Position Title: |
Deputy Medical Examiner |
Pay Grade: |
Appointed |
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Date: |
January 2007 |
Reports To: |
Medical Examiner and Law Enforcement Comm. |
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Purpose of position:
Under the supervision of the Medical Examiner and general direction of the Law Enforcement Committee, this official is responsible for professionally and confidentially conducting investigations of all deaths of an unusual or violent nature or in cases where no physician was in attendance within 30 days preceding death. The deputy medical examiner shall perform duties as outlined in Chapter 979, 30.67(6), 48.981, 59.34 and others as may be amended or required by law. The Deputy Medical Examiner shall serve at the pleasure of the Medical Examiner.
Essential duties and responsibilities:
- Respond to death calls, observe the death scene, question witnesses, and examine evidence to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the incident;
- Obtain personal data and medical history by examining documents and interviewing relatives, friends and acquaintances;
- Properly complete the medical certification on a death certificate for every case reported under state statute 979.01, complying with standards for timeliness and completeness as issued by the State Registrar per state statute 69.18;
- Make decisions with respect to the necessity of an autopsy, toxicology and other testing;
- Obtain biological samples in a method consistent with medical and legal standards of practice;
- Communicate with the family and loved ones of the next of kin, including death notification and appropriate release of all information regarding the cause and manner of death;
- Testify as an expert witness concerning the facts and conclusions disclosed by autopsies, physical exams and other tests;
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies;
- Obtain and securely maintain personal data and records;
- Facilitate eye, tissue and organ donation;
- Attend mandatory training seminars.
Additional tasks and responsibilities:
- Provide risk management for the county physicians, hospitals and law enforcement.
- Educate the community as to the types of reportable deaths and the role of coroner/medical examiner as an advocate for the dead.
Requirements:
- Valid driver’s license;
- Availability 24 hours/day, 7 days/week unless proper replacement is available and reported to the Pierce County dispatch.
Language Ability and Interpersonal Communications:
- Ability to decide the time, place and sequence of operations within an organizational framework, as well as the ability to oversee their execution. Ability to analyze and categorize data and information using established criteria, in order to determine consequences and to identify and select alternatives.
- Ability to persuade, convince and train others. Ability to advise and interpret regarding the application of policies, procedures and standards to specific situations.
- Ability to utilize a variety of advisory and design data and information such as medical records and reports, incident and accident reports, investigation results, State statutes and emergency plans.
Physical requirements:
- Ability to coordinate eyes, hands, feet and limbs in performing skilled/semi-skilled movements such as examination of bodies. A large percentage of time is spent sitting, talking, hearing, handling and using near and far vision.
- Ability to exert moderate to heavy physical effort in accessing the deceased, which will include indoor and outdoor locations, typically involving some combination of walking, standing, stooping, kneeling, climbing, bending and reaching. Requires lifting, carrying, pushing/pulling 100 pounds or more.
Environmental Adaptability:
- Ability to work under moderately safe and comfortable conditions where exposure to environmental factors such as temperature variations and extreme weather conditions, odors, toxic agents, wetness, disease and/or dust may cause some discomfort and there is risk of minor injury.
Pierce County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the County will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.
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Deputy Medical Examiner Date Personnel Designee Date
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Medical Examiner Date