sharon sanders
Editor-in-Chief & President
GUIDELINES FOR REPORTING AND MANAGING MASS FATALITY EVENTS WITH THE VIRGINIA MEDICAL EXAMINER SYSTEM
http://www.vdh.state.va.us/MedExam/documents/Mass_Guidelines.pdf
These guidelines supplement the customary death reporting procedures for the Medical Examiner System as outlined in the Code of Virginia
?32.1-283A. REPORT the following types of deaths to the Local and
District Medical Examiner REGARDLESS OF HOSPITALIZATION OR THE DURATION OF SURVIVAL FOLLOWING THE UNDERLYING DISEASE OR INJURY.
Deaths due to or suspected of being due to:
a. Suspected infectious diseases that may represent a
bio-terrorism event or the initial presentation of an
emerging infection that may result in an epidemic.
The Medical Examiner does not have jurisdiction over
clearly natural deaths due to natural disease under
non- suspicious circumstances e.g. influenza deaths.
b. Events due to nature (hurricane, earthquake), nuclear,
biological, chemical or other mass fatality event.
c. Homicidal, suicidal, accidental or undetermined
causes related to a mass casualty event.
Bioterrorism deaths are homicides.
The Medical Examiner will assume jurisdiction over all of the deaths described above based upon the Code of Virginia ? 32.1-277 to 32.1-288. Do not release remains from your facility to the next of kin if the death resulted from one of the scenarios listed above. The Medical Examiner will release remains to the next-of-kin after investigation and examination....
more....
http://www.vdh.state.va.us/MedExam/documents/Mass_Guidelines.pdf
These guidelines supplement the customary death reporting procedures for the Medical Examiner System as outlined in the Code of Virginia
?32.1-283A. REPORT the following types of deaths to the Local and
District Medical Examiner REGARDLESS OF HOSPITALIZATION OR THE DURATION OF SURVIVAL FOLLOWING THE UNDERLYING DISEASE OR INJURY.
Deaths due to or suspected of being due to:
a. Suspected infectious diseases that may represent a
bio-terrorism event or the initial presentation of an
emerging infection that may result in an epidemic.
The Medical Examiner does not have jurisdiction over
clearly natural deaths due to natural disease under
non- suspicious circumstances e.g. influenza deaths.
b. Events due to nature (hurricane, earthquake), nuclear,
biological, chemical or other mass fatality event.
c. Homicidal, suicidal, accidental or undetermined
causes related to a mass casualty event.
Bioterrorism deaths are homicides.
The Medical Examiner will assume jurisdiction over all of the deaths described above based upon the Code of Virginia ? 32.1-277 to 32.1-288. Do not release remains from your facility to the next of kin if the death resulted from one of the scenarios listed above. The Medical Examiner will release remains to the next-of-kin after investigation and examination....
more....