Replace the Elected Coroner System with a Professional Medical Examiner System

To the Citizens and Commissioners of Wayne County, Indiana:

     We, the undersigned, call for the dissolution of the elected Coroner position in Wayne County and the establishment of a Medical Examiner system staffed by qualified forensic pathologists trained in death investigation and cause-of-death determination.

     The manner in which deaths are investigated affects criminal justice, public health reporting, insurance claims, family closure, and overall trust in government functions. It’s time Wayne County aligns with best practices and ensures that death investigations are conducted by professionals with the medical expertise required to get it right.

What’s the Difference?

Coroner System

• Typically an elected official
• In many jurisdictions, no medical or forensic training is required
• May rely on outside consultants to determine cause of death

Medical Examiner System

• An appointed position
• Must be a licensed physician, often board-certified in forensic pathology
• Trained to conduct autopsies, interpret toxicology, and determine cause and manner of death
• Operates under scientific and professional standards
• Medical examiners are specialists — coroners often are not.

Why This Matters: The Problem with Inaccurate Cause of Death Determinations

     Accurate cause and manner of death determinations are critical to investigations, public health data, and justice. However, national research shows significant inconsistencies and errors in how deaths are certified — particularly when medically trained specialists are not involved.

Death Certificate Errors Are Common

     Studies indicate that 85% of death certificates contain one or more errors, including wrong cause or manner of death.

Clinical Medicine Research

     Major diagnostic errors — including incorrect or missing causes — have been documented when compared with autopsy findings. 

Coroners vs. Medical Examiners

     Research shows coroners were 41% more likely to inaccurately report underlying cause of death than medical examiners in analyses using more robust classification systems.

       Coroners-only systems have been found to underreport suicides by over 17% and perform more than 20% fewer autopsies compared to jurisdictions with medical examiners. 

National Impact

     Approximately 20% of the more than 2.4 million deaths in the U.S. each year are referred to coroners and medical examiners for investigation, making this a significant public health and criminal justice function.

     These findings underscore that when medically trained forensic experts conduct investigations, the data is more accurate and useful — and, ultimately, more just.

Professionalism Matters

     Wayne County has recently been featured by national news, including coverage by FOX59, regarding public disputes involving county officials and social media policy. The attention highlights how easily public trust can be undermined when officials engage in conduct that appears unprofessional or partisan.

     Death investigations must be conducted with scientific rigor, impartiality, and respect for the deceased and their families. Conflicts on social platforms — official or personal — not only distract from that mission but erode the credibility of a system entrusted with life-and-death determinations.

     In contrast, medical examiner systems emphasize professional standards, training, and insulation from politics, strengthening public confidence and ensuring that investigations are conducted ethically.

Our Request

     We respectfully urge the Wayne County Commissioners and the Indiana State Legislature to:

• Eliminate the elected coroner position in Wayne County.
• Establish a Medical Examiner office lead by a board-certified forensic pathologist. 
• Provide appropriate funding and oversight to ensure accurate, scientifically grounded death investigations.

Why We Support This Change

     Wayne County deserves:

• Accurate cause and manner of death determinations
• Qualified professionals with medical and forensic expertise
• Public trust in death investigations
• Consistency with modern forensic standards
• Improved data for public health and policy

Petition to Reform Death Investigations in Wayne County, Indiana

     Signing this petition shows support for professionalism, transparency, and justice in how our community handles death investigations. For families, law enforcement, and the justice system, the difference between a coroner and a medical examiner is not academic — it’s real and impactful.

     If you believe Wayne County needs a medical examiner system staffed by trained professionals — not an elected position with variable qualifications — please sign and share this petition.