Recognized as national leaders in their respective fields, the scientific staff members of the Kentucky Office of the Medical Examiner assist Kentucky coroners and law enforcement agencies in all aspects of death investigation. Central to the role of the office is the performance of the forensic autopsy, to aid in the determination of cause and manner of death of individuals, and identification of the deceased.
Forensic pathologists annually conduct around 2,500 forensic autopsy examinations at the three regional offices, located in Louisville, Frankfort, and Madisonville.
Forensic pathologists are medical doctors who have undertaken at least 5 years of post-graduate training to become proficient in the subspecialty of forensic pathology.
A forensic pathologist is available to coroners for consultation 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Post-mortem examinations are conducted around the state 365 days a year. The mission statement of the Kentucky Medical Examiners Office is to serve the public by:
- providing accurate, thorough, and efficient medicolegal investigations of death, thereby
- ensuring justice, and
- providing solace, comfort, and protection to the living.
More information about forensic pathology and death investigation may be found at
www.aafs.org and
www.thename.org.
Information regarding Kentucky Coroners and the Kentucky Coroners Association may be found on their
Facebook page.