The Significance and Effect of the Medical Examiner in the Field of Forensic Science

Forensic science is a quickly growing field. New findings and techniques in the field are being discovered regularly and its presence has become a staple in any type of investigation. One major aspect of forensic science is the medical examiner. A medical examiner is responsible for performing an autopsy and determining cause and manner of death for a deceased individual. In this thesis, I discuss and analyze the significance of the medical examiner’s work and the effect their role has on the field of forensic science. This includes topics such as defining death, the autopsy process, and the impact of the medical examiner’s ruling in death investigation.