N.C. OCME Frequently Asked Questions

“Upon the death of any person resulting from violence, poisoning, accident, suicide, or homicide; occurring suddenly when the deceased had been in apparent good health or when unattended by a physician; occurring in a jail, prison, correctional institute, or in police custody; or occurring under any suspicious, unusual or unnatural circumstance, the medical examiner of the county in which the deceased is found shall be notified…” N.C. General Statutes § 130A-383

This means that a medical examiner has been notified to investigate the circumstances surrounding deaths due to unnatural or unexpected apparently natural means. Even though a medical examiner has been notified of a death, this does not mean it falls under medical examiner jurisdiction. During preliminary investigations, a medical examiner may find sufficient evidence that the death does not fall under medical examiner jurisdiction and it is then the responsibility of the primary care physician to sign the death certificate. If jurisdiction is accepted, the medical examiner will perform an examination of the body and make inquiries about the circumstances of the death. In some circumstances, such as when an autopsy is required as part of the death investigation, the decedent may have to be transported to a designated regional facility for examination.

*NOTE: County designations may overlap with multiple regional facilities. Inquiries may be directed to a different facility than the one listed below.

Regional and Supporting Facilities and Their Designated Counties

Facility	Phone	Counties Served
Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME)	(919) 743-9000	Alamance, Bladen, Caswell, Chatham, Columbus, Cumberland, Davidson, Durham, Franklin, Granville, Guilford, Harnett, Hoke, Johnston, Lee, Montgomery, Moore, Orange, Person, Randolph, Richmond, Robeson*, Rockingham, Rowan, Sampson*, Scotland, Stanly, Vance, Wake, Warren, Wayne *Robeson County: Southeast Regional Medical Center, (910) 671-5000 *Sampson County: Sampson Regional Medical Center, (910) 592-8511
ECU Brody School of Medicine	(252) 744-4655	Beaufort, Bertie, Camden, Carteret, Chowan, Craven, Currituck, Dare, Duplin, Edgecombe, Gates, Greene, Halifax, Hertford, Hyde, Jones, Lenoir, Martin, Nash, Northampton, Onslow, Pamlico, Pasquatank, Pender, Perquimans, Pitt, Tyrell, Washington, Wilson
Onslow Memorial Hospital	(910) 577-2345	Brunswick, New Hanover, Onslow, Pender (services overlap with ECU)
Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center	(336) 716-2634	Alexander, Allegheny, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba*, Davie, Forsyth, Henderson, Iredell, Lincoln, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Stokes, Surry, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes, Yadkin, Yancey *Catawba County: Piedmont Pathology Group, (828) 322-3821
Mecklenburg County ME Office	(704) 336-2005	Anson, Cabarrus, Cleveland, Gaston, Mecklenburg, Union
Harris Regional Hospital	(828) 586-7000	Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Swain

A full external and internal examination (autopsy) may be required to determine the cause and manner of death, but in some cases, an external examination may be all that is necessary. The decision to perform an autopsy is determined by the medical examiner and his/her review of medical records, investigative reports, medications, and other information.

How long will an examination take?

Usually, an examination will be done within 1-2 days after the person’s death. However, in some instances of suspicious death or identification issues, a decedent may be held at the Medical Examiner’s Office for a longer period of time. A decedent must be positively identified before he/she leaves the facility. Under these circumstances, family and friends can assist in this process by contacting investigating officials or the medical examiner with medical/dental provider names and records, x-rays, photographs with identifying marks or tattoos, and other useful resources.

As part of the autopsy, the pathologist may take biological samples such as blood, other body fluids, and tissues for further study in an effort to determine the cause and manner of death. Toxicology testing on some of these samples may be performed if the pathologist believes that the results may affect the determination of cause or manner. The sample testing will not delay the release of the body to the next of kin. However, the results of such testing may take several months to finalize, causing the manner and cause of death to be certified as “pending.” If a death certificate is issued with a “pending” manner and cause of death, a supplemental death certificate will be issued once all testing is completed.

Can family view the body?

It is never necessary for family or friends to come to a regional autopsy facility. Viewing is not permitted during examinations in an effort to protect the public from potential exposure to infectious diseases or other health hazards. There are no facilities to allow viewings; a viewing may be arranged with the funeral service after the body is released from the regional autopsy facility.

How are funeral arrangements made?

Decedents who are transported to a regional facility will usually be ready for release after the medical examiner completes his/her examination. The transporter who brought the body to the regional facility may also return it to the county of death for pick up at a local hospital or morgue.

The decedent’s next of kin has priority over making arrangements. Most of the time, family and friends help with these decisions. The next of kin should contact a funeral home or cremation service of their choice to handle the arrangements for their loved one. Once a service is chosen, the funeral home or cremation service should contact the regional facility or local hospital/morgue to arrange for body transport. A list of funeral homes can be found at www.funeralhomes.com. A family may also seek advice and recommendations from local churches or friends.

What if the family does not have the resources to pay for funeral arrangements?

If the family does not have the means to make final disposition arrangements, please contact the regional facility for further information. The family may declare a decedent “unclaimed.” The state will then take custody of the body and make final arrangements.

Death Certificates

Death certificates are public records. Copies of death certificates and/or supplemental death certificates are not issued by the OCME and may be obtained from the Register of Deeds Office in the county where the death occurred or the State Vital Records Office. Anyone can obtain copies of the death certificate from vital records for a fee. Funeral homes can assist you in the process of obtaining copies of the death certificate.

A death certificate is completed by the assigned county medical examiner. For instance, if a person dies in Wake County and the death falls under medical examiner jurisdiction, the Wake County medical examiner assigned to the case would be responsible for the death certificate.

Autopsy, Investigation, and Toxicology Reports

Autopsy, Investigation, and Toxicology Reports are also public records and once finalized, may be obtained from the OCME. To request any of these documents, please use the Document Request web form. If you do not have Internet access, you may request documents by calling the OCME during regular business hours. There is no fee for these documents.

Personal property is inventoried by the medical examiner and/or pathologist and released with the body once the examination is complete. If a crime is involved, it may be necessary for law enforcement to take possession of some or all of the personal items. Once the investigation is complete, personal effects may be returned to the family at the discretion of the law enforcement agency.

Medications are generally not returned with the body.