WHAT IS A CORONER'S CASE?

By statute,the duty of the Coroneris to establish cause and manner of death of persons through investigation, inquiry and postmortem examination. Colorado statutes specifically list certain cases which are Coroner's cases (1973, 30-10-606).

1. ALL victims of homicide or suspected homicide;
2. ALL victims of suicide or suspected suicide;
3. ALL persons dead on arrival at a hospital (DOA);
4. ALL victims of accidental death or suspected accidental death;
5. ALL persons dying in vehicular accidents (auto, motorcycle, boat etc);
6. ALL "crib deaths" (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome);
7. ALL cases of overt or suspected child abuse;
8. ALL persons dying in aircraft accidents;
9. ALL patients that expire within 24 hours of admission to any hospital;
10. ALL cases in which a physician is not in attendance, OR when, though in attendance is unable to certify the cause of death.
11. MOST cases in which a physician has not seen the decedent within forty five days of death.
12. ALL deaths of unexplained causes, suspicious circumstances, or if the death was the result of traumatic means.
13. ALL deaths occurring while the decedent is in police custody, or during transport
14. ALL cases of recovery of skeletal remains;
15. ANY case wherein there is such postmortem decomposition that a sufficient investigation and external examination to rule out injuries cannot be made and where the circumstances of the death do not enable one to rule out other than natural causes;
16. ALL industrial or employment accidents;
17. ALL death by poison or suspicion of poison;
18. ALL cases where the victim dies suddenly when in apparent good health;
19. ALL deaths associated with diagnostic or therapeutic procedures;
20. ANY patient who has sustained an injury (fracture, fall, concussion, etc.) prior to or during hospital admission and;
21. Exhumations (disinterment) performed for the purpose of establishing the cause of death or clearing up a question relating to the cause of death.