According to people in this career, the main tasks are...
| Task | Importance |
|---|---|
| Perform medicolegal examinations and autopsies, conducting preliminary examinations of the body to identify victims, locate signs of trauma, and identify factors that would indicate time of death. | 99% |
| Inquire into the cause, manner, and circumstances of human deaths and establish the identities of deceased persons. | 99% |
| Complete death certificates, including the assignment of cause and manner of death. | 97% |
| Collect and document any pertinent medical history information. | 96% |
| Arrange for the next of kin to be notified of deaths. | 95% |
| Complete reports and forms required to finalize cases. | 95% |
| Observe, record, and preserve any objects or personal property related to deaths, including objects such as medication containers and suicide notes. | 94% |
| Inventory personal effects recovered from bodies, such as jewelry or wallets. | 94% |
| Observe and record the positions and conditions of bodies and related evidence. | 92% |
| Interview persons present at death scenes to obtain information useful in determining the manner of death. | 91% |
| Locate and document information regarding the next of kin, including their relationship to the deceased and the status of notification attempts. | 91% |
| Direct activities of workers conducting autopsies, performing pathological and toxicological analyses, and preparing documents for permanent records. | 90% |
| Provide information concerning the circumstances of death to relatives of the deceased. | 90% |
| Remove or supervise removal of bodies from death scenes, using the proper equipment and supplies, and arrange for transportation to morgues. | 89% |
| Coordinate the release of personal effects to authorized persons and facilitate the disposition of unclaimed corpses and personal effects. | 88% |
| Witness and certify deaths that are the result of a judicial order. | 86% |
| Testify at inquests, hearings, and court trials. | 85% |
| Record the disposition of minor children, as well as details of arrangements made for their care. | 84% |
| Confer with officials of public health and law enforcement agencies to coordinate interdepartmental activities. | 83% |
| Collect wills, burial instructions, and other documentation needed for investigations and for handling of the remains. | 56% |
