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Reflection Of Personal Investigations

Decent Essays

I have spent the last few weeks continuing my education on how the coroners’ office completes their investigation. Last Friday I was able to complete my first solo investigation. We had two runs at Methodist Hospital, Deputy Kendall made sure I knew exactly what information I had to obtain and then had me navigate the hospital on my own and complete the investigation. Hospital investigations are usually pretty simple because most of the time we already know how the person died, normally it has something to do with their prior medical history, and then we can do a scene sign out. A scene sign out is when the coroners’ office is going to sign the death certificate, but there is no need to complete and autopsy so we allow the patient to go straight to the funeral home. My specific case was a gentleman who had a witnessed fall at work. I was able to speak with the family and the nurse. Speaking with the family, in my opinion, can be the most meaningful part of the investigation. This is the time when you can try to give the family as much closer as possible until we have more information for them. As I reflect on my internship thus far I have realized that my values of living have changed. People always say “tomorrow is never promised,” I have now seen this first hand. Most of our cases involving young people are either homicides or overdoses, which are both never foreseen by the decedent. I now live everyday to its fullest. I also have a new value for family. I have also

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