A physician who performs an autopsy when death may be accidental or violent and may also serve as the coroner is called what?

• A. Forensic Pathologist
• B. Coroner
• C. Pathologist
• D. Medical Examiner

Answer: (D)

In death investigations, the person who is a physician, performs autopsies, and can also hold the coroner role is the medical examiner. This role combines medical expertise with authority to determine cause and manner of death, especially in cases that are accidental or violent. In many jurisdictions, the medical examiner is the physician responsible for conducting autopsies and may also serve as the coroner, the official in charge of supervising death investigations. A forensic pathologist is the doctor who conducts the autopsy and analyzes tissue to determine cause of death, but the term describes the specialty rather than the official job title. A pathologist is a physician who studies disease in general, not specifically tied to death investigations. A coroner is typically an elected official who may not be a physician and might not perform autopsies themselves.