| 1. | Perform medico-legal examinations and autopsies, conducting preliminary examinations of the body in order to identify victims, to locate signs of trauma, and to identify factors that would indicate time of death. |
| 2. | Inquire into the cause, manner, and circumstances of human deaths, and establish the identities of deceased persons. |
| 3. | Direct activities of workers who conduct autopsies, perform pathological and toxicological analyses, and prepare documents for permanent records. |
| 4. | Complete death certificates, including the assignment of a cause and manner of death. |
| 5. | Observe and record the positions and conditions of bodies and of related evidence. |
| 6. | Collect and document any pertinent medical history information. |
| 7. | Observe, record, and preserve any objects or personal property related to deaths, including objects such as medication containers and suicide notes. |
| 8. | Complete reports and forms required to finalize cases. |
| 9. | Remove or supervise removal of bodies from death scenes, using the proper equipment and supplies, and arrange for transportation to morgues. |
| 10. | Interview persons present at death scenes to obtain information useful in determining the manner of death. |
| 11. | Testify at inquests, hearings, and court trials. |
| 12. | Provide information concerning the circumstances of death to relatives of the deceased. |
| 13. | Locate and document information regarding the next of kin, including their relationship to the deceased and the status of notification attempts. |
| 14. | Confer with officials of public health and law enforcement agencies in order to coordinate interdepartmental activities. |
| 15. | Inventory personal effects, such as jewelry or wallets, that are recovered from bodies. |
| 16. | Coordinate the release of personal effects to authorized persons, and facilitate the disposition of unclaimed corpses and personal effects. |
| 17. | Arrange for the next of kin to be notified of deaths. |
| 18. | Record the disposition of minor children, as well as details of arrangements made for their care. |
| 19. | Collect wills, burial instructions, and other documentation needed for investigations and for handling of the remains. |
| 20. | Witness and certify deaths that are the result of a judicial order. |