Chapter 1 - Introduction to Death Investigation

Abstract

The study of medicolegal death investigation is one that encompasses a number of other disciplines. A medicolegal death investigator uses principles from medicine, criminal justice, and social sciences to dutifully fulfill his/her role in the death investigation system. Like a health-care provider, the medicolegal death investigator must be well versed in understanding medical conditions, common treatments, and medications for various health conditions and, above all else, be exceptional at obtaining a complete medical, social, and family history. Criminal justice principles are an area that the medicolegal death investigator must familiarize himself/herself with, as well.