Report a Death
To report a death to the Medical Examiner’s Office, call the main office at (315) 435-3163.
After hours (Midnight – 8:00 AM) call (315) 435-8833.
Deaths that should be reported to the Medical Examiner's Office:
Pursuant to New York State County Law, Article 17A, Section 670, the medical examiner has jurisdiction and authority to investigate the death of every person dying within his/her county, or whose body is found within the county, which is or appears to be:
- A violent death, whether by criminal violence, suicide or casualty;
- A death caused by unlawful act or criminal neglect;
- A death occurring in a suspicious, unusual or unexplained manner;
- A death caused by suspected criminal abortion;
- A death while unattended by a physician, so far as can be discovered, or where no physician able to certify the cause of death as provided in the public health law and in form as prescribed by the commissioner of health can be found;
- A death of a person confined in a public institution other than a hospital, infirmary or nursing home.
Jurisdiction
Once it is decided that an individual case falls within the jurisdiction of the medical examiner, it is our responsibility to determine the cause and manner of death, produce an autopsy report, and issue a death certificate. The cause of death is the disease process or injury that results in the person’s death. The manner of death indicates how the death occurred and includes designations of accident, homicide, natural, suicide, or undetermined. |
