Medical examiner

A medical examiner is a medically qualified government officer whose duty is to investigate deaths and injuries that occur under unusual or suspicious circumstances, to perform post-mortem examinations, and in some jurisdictions to initiate inquests.

A medical examiner is a government official who
 * Investigates human organs like the stomach, liver, brain
 * Determines cause of death
 * Issues death certificates
 * Maintains death records
 * Responds to deaths in mass disasters
 * Identifies unknown dead
 * Other functions depending on local law

In some jurisdictions with English origins or history, a coroner performs these and other duties. Within the United States, there is a mixture of coroner and medical examiner systems, and in some states, dual systems. The meaning of these terms, duties, and requirements to hold office vary widely between jurisdictions.