Frequently Asked Questions
- Why is the Medical Examiner's Office involved?
- Will an autopsy be performed?
- Can I refuse an autopsy?
- Will I still be able to have an open casket service if an autopsy is performed?
- Do I have to pay for an autopsy?
- Where will my relative/friend be taken?
- How long will it take before my loved one is released from the Medical Examiner's jurisdiction?
- Is it necessary for me to come to the Medical Examiner's Office to view the body?
- Can a Medical Examiner's case still be an organ or tissue donor?
- Why are tubes and other medical devices left in place on the body?
- Is viewing or visitation allowed while the body is under the Medical Examiner's jurisdiction?
- Who contacts the funeral home?
- How do I obtain a certified copy of the death certificate?
- When will the autopsy report be ready and how do I obtain a copy?
- What does "pending" mean on a death certificate?
- What should I do now?
Q. Why is the Medical Examiner's Office involved?
Alaska law requires the Medical Examiner to investigate the circumstances and determine the cause and manner of death of all deaths that are:
- Sudden, when a person is in apparent good health;
- Not under the care of a physician;
- Suspicious, unusual or unexplained;
- The result of violence;
- Unlawful or due to criminal neglect.
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Q. Will an autopsy be performed?
Autopsies are routinely performed to determine the cause and manner
of death on all cases listed above. Autopsies are not routinely performed
in cases where there is significant medical history, the death appears
to be from natural causes or there is no evidence of foul play.
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In situations where the death appears to be the result of natural causes,
there is no evidence of foul play nor is there evidence to support that
the death is anything other than due to natural causes, one can decline
an autopsy. In cases where the actual cause of death is unclear or due
to unusual circumstances, such as homicide, suicide or where concerns
of foul play are raised either by others or law enforcement personnel,
an autopsy can be ordered, by law, by the Medical Examiner.
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Q. Will I still be able to have an open casket service if an autopsy is performed?
Yes - autopsies are performed in a professional manner that does not
interfere with the viewing of the deceased in a normal manner.
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Q. Do I have to pay for an autopsy?
No - there is no charge to the family for autopsies performed under
the Medical Examiner's jurisdiction. Families pay nothing for the State
Medical Examiner's services or for the transportation to Anchorage for
autopsy and return to the place of death. The State Medical Examiner
does not pay for embalming or other services provided by a funeral home.
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Q. Where will my relative/friend be taken?
Your loved one will be taken to the State Medical Examiner's Office, 4500 S. Boniface Parkway, Anchorage, Alaska. They will remain there until the forensic examination of the body is complete. Upon completion, the deceased will be released by the Medical Examiner's Office to the funeral home selected by the next of kin. Investigation may continue after the release of the body to the funeral home. back to top
Q. How long will it take before my loved one is released from the Medical Examiner's jurisdiction?
Depending on what time of day the Medical Examiner's Office is notified
and takes jurisdiction, the medical information available to the Medical
Examiner at that time and the circumstances surrounding the death, the
body may be released the same day or later on the next day. In cases
of suspicious deaths or deaths that require further investigation, your
loved one's remains may be held for additional time.
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Q. Is it necessary for me to come to the Medical Examiner's Office to view the body?
No - in the majority of cases, visual identification is not required.
If visual identification is required, you will be notified by the Medical
Examiner's Office.
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Q. Can a Medical Examiner's case still be an organ or tissue donor?
Yes! Once family members have expressed interest, local tissue and
organ procurement services work closely with the State Medical Examiner's
Office, and will review the appropriateness of the organ harvest with
the Medical Examiner before allowing family members to formally consent
to the donation. Being a victim of a homicide or traumatic death does
not preclude a donor. All cases for organ donation require family consent.
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Q. Why are tubes and other medical devices left in place on the body?
Part of the autopsy is to investigate the proper application of therapeutic
devices. Blood, soil and other material may sometimes not be allowed
to be washed off as it may hinder the investigation.
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Q. Is viewing or visitation allowed while the body is under the Medical Examiner's jurisdiction?
The Medical Examiner's Office is not designed to handle bereaved relatives.
Only in rare instances is viewing of the remains allowed on a limited
basis. Arrangements for viewing should be made with your funeral director.
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Q. Who contacts the funeral home?
Once you have selected a funeral home, please let them know that the
body is under the jurisdiction of the Medical Examiner's Office. Once
a funeral home is selected, you must call the Medical Examiner's Office
as soon as possible to inform them of your choice. The Medical Examiner's
Office will then contact the funeral home when the body is ready for
release.
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Q. How do I obtain a certified copy of the death certificate?
The Medical Examiner's Office does not issue copies of the death certificate.
Copies can be requested from the funeral home when arrangements are
made. Additionally, copies can be obtained by writing Vital Statistics,
P.O. Box 110675, Juneau, AK 99811-0675.
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Q. When will the autopsy report be ready and how do I obtain a copy?
Autopsy reports are generally available about one month from the date
of death, but the results of toxicology and other studies can cause
further delays. One copy of the autopsy report is available at no charge
to the immediate next of kin only. Immediate next of kin means one of
the following in this order: spouse, adult son/daughter, parent, brother/sister,
niece/nephew. Please submit your request in writing to the Medical Examiner's
Office.
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Q. What does "pending" mean on a death certificate?
Occasionally additional information, more extensive testing or further
studies are required to accurately determine a cause and manner of death.
A death certificate with "pending" as the cause of death still
allows your family to make immediate funeral arrangements. An amended
or final death certificate will be issued upon completion of the investigation
and you will be notified when the final death certificate is ready.
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As soon as possible a funeral home must be selected to handle funeral
arrangements for the deceased. When you contact the funeral director,
advise them that the deceased is under the Medical Examiner's jurisdiction.
The funeral director will, in turn, contact our office and make arrangements
to pick up your loved one.
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