If death was caused by other than natural causes, who is responsible for determining the cause of death?

In instances where death is caused by circumstances other than natural causes, the responsibility for determining the cause of death falls to the medical examiner or coroner. This is due to their specialized training and authority to conduct investigations into suspicious or unexplained deaths, which may include homicides, suicides, accidents, or deaths resulting from drug overdoses.

The role of the medical examiner or coroner includes conducting autopsies, reviewing medical history, and sometimes performing toxicology tests to establish a definitive cause of death. This process is critical in both legal and medical contexts, as understanding the cause can influence legal proceedings, family claims, and public health statistics.

Other parties, such as the attending physician or the funeral director, do not have the authority to officially determine the cause of death in these situations. While the physician may be involved in the patient's care prior to death, they typically do not investigate deaths that are outside their immediate control or understanding, especially in cases of unusual circumstances. Family members, while deeply affected by the death, do not possess the legal authority or expertise required to make such determinations; they primarily focus on personal grief and decisions related to funeral arrangements.