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The Douglas County Medical Examiner's Office is a
state-of-the-art facility with complete autopsy and refrigeration capability. All medical
examiner cases in Douglas County are processed through this facility.
Family/Visitor Meeting Room
Autopsy Facility
The goal of the Medical Examiner's Office is to serve
Douglas County Law Enforcement Agencies, the District Attorney's Office, the medical
community and family members with the investigation of sudden, unexpected, unexplained
deaths. This includes deaths of suspicious and violent natures.
The Medical Examiner's Office investigates deaths that
occur in Douglas County that are of concern to the public's safety, health and it's
welfare. As per ORS 146, this office investigates deaths that fall under one or more of
the following categories:
- Those deaths that are apparently homicidal, suicidal, or
occurring under suspicious or unknown circumstances
- Resulting from the unlawful use of controlled substances
or the use or abuse of chemicals or toxic agents.
- Occurring while incarcerated in the Douglas County Jail or
while in the custody of a law enforcement officer
- Apparently accidental or following an injury.
- By disease, injury or toxic agent during or arising from
employment.
- While not under the care of a physician during the period
immediately preceding the death.
- Related to disease which might constitute a threat to the
health of the general public.
- In which human remains have been disposed of in an
offensive manner.
The Medical Examiner's office certifies the manner and
cause of death in the above instances. Certificates of Death are filed by this office in
accordance with ORS 146.003.
Based upon evidence obtained, the Medical Examiner's
Office makes every attempt to accurately determine positive identity of the decedent(s)
and the circumstances leading up to death, by means of thorough detailed investigations.
With the assistance of local hospital facilities and the Oregon State Police Forensic
Crime Laboratory, modern medical and forensic science is applied to the death
investigation by expertly trained technical staff.
While there is always cooperative interaction with
several other county and municipal agencies, the Medical Examiner's Office provides for an
independent assessment of each individual death.
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