Kentucky Medical Examiner's Office

Recognized as national leaders in their respective fields, the scientific staff members of the Kentucky Office of the Medical Examiner assist Kentucky coroners and law enforcement agencies in all aspects of death investigation.  Central to the role of the office is the performance of the forensic autopsy, to aid in the determination of cause and manner of death of individuals, and identification of the deceased. 

Forensic specialists working for the Medical Examiner's Office include forensic pathologists, forensic odontologists, and specialists in neuropathology, forensic toxicology, and forensic anthropology.  Forensic pathologists annually conduct around 2,500 forensic autopsy examinations at the four regional offices, located in Louisville, Frankfort, Ft. Thomas, and Madisonville.

A forensic pathologist is available to coroners for consultation 24 hours a day, every day of the year. The mission statement of the Kentucky Medical Examiner's Office is to serve the public by:
                 --providing accurate, thorough, and efficient medicolegal investigations of death, thereby
                 --ensuring justice, and 
                 --providing solace, comfort, and protection to the living.

In 2012, the Medical Examiner Division performed services for approximately 2,402 deaths. A detailed summary of the case distribution is delineated in this report.  It should be noted that this annual report does not include all deaths occurring in Kentucky, but rather those cases investigated by the Kentucky Medical Examiner Program:

Office of the State Medical Examiner 2012 Calendar Year Annual Report

Previous Reports:
In 2011, the Medical Examiner Division performed services for approximately 2,378 deaths. A detailed summary of the case distribution is delineated in this report:
Office of the State Medical Examiner 2011 Calendar Year Annual Report

In 2010, the Medical Examiner Division performed services for approximately 2,452 deaths. A detailed summary of the case distribution is delineated in this report:
Office of the State Medical Examiner 2010 Calendar Year Annual Report

In 2009, The Medical Examiner Division performed services for approximately 2,373 deaths. A detailed summary of the case distribution is delineated in this report:
Office of the State Medical Examiner 2009 Calendar Year Annual Report

In 2008, the Medical Examiner Division performed services for approximately 2,342 deaths. A detailed summary of the case distribution is delineated in this report:
Office of the State Medical Examiner 2008 Calendar Year Annual Report

Information for Families, a brochure developed by the Kentucky Medical Examiner's Office, helps answer questions about the autopsy process and the role of the Medical Examiner.