Norfolk, Virginia Injury Lawyer Reports : The Role of a VA Medical Examiner in Wrongful Deaths and Accidents

Medical Examiners have the duty of doing a thorough examination of any person that has died suddenly , under suspicious circumstances, murders/suicides or in the custody of any official (police, government etc). They also examine very young babies who could be victims of mistreatment. Lastly, they also examine anyone who died in an accident of any sort, including [car accidents, motor accidents ]and falls. The Virginia medical exam determines the cause of death.

Dr Leah Bush from Richmond, Virginia describes to the Daily Press that the job is not how it seems on television. On television shows like Bones, the tests take very little time. In real life, the tests and other experiments take weeks and sometimes months.

She also explains that the rise in prescription drug misusage, which led to many deaths. Illegal drugs are also sometimes added to the mix. Sadly, much of the drug usage is found in the western part of Virginia where there are fewer big cities and more rural areas.

Bush also describes how in previous years, the death of many babies were considered to be because of “ Sudden Infant Death Syndrome” or SIDS. Instead of leaving the families of these babies in question on the exact reason for their death, Bush dives deeper and finds out what really happened. Many of the babies whose deaths were categorized from SIDS were actually killed accidentally. They were killed by maybe suffocating on very fluffy blankets or pillows. Another explanation is that they died from putting a baby in a bed or crib with an older sibling.

In 2009, the Medical Examiner’s office of Virginia explained that alcohol was detected in 24 percent of all accidental deaths. In fact, there was alcohol involved in one-third of those who died in car and motor accidents.