What is the purpose of the coroner/medical examiner notification policy in EMS?

• A. To document the patient's medical history
• B. To provide proper notification when there has been a death recorded by EMS
• C. To authorize post-mortem procedures
• D. To track EMS response times

Answer: (D)

The main idea behind notifying the coroner or medical examiner is to ensure proper, timely contact with the authorities whenever a death is encountered by EMS. This policy exists so that deaths—especially those that are unexplained, sudden, or tied to potential foul play, overdose, or unusual circumstances—are brought to the attention of the ME/coroner who can determine if an autopsy is needed, initiate the appropriate investigation, and guide any legal steps. It’s not about recording a patient’s medical history, nor about EMS authorizing post-mortem procedures—the ME/coroner makes those decisions. And it isn’t about measuring how quickly EMS responds; response times are a separate performance concern.