Office of the Medical Examiner has unique responsibilities that impact every Utahn
TAYLORSVILLE, UTAH (November 15, 2024) – The Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) wants Utahns to know that the work of the Office of the Medical Examiner (OME) is for the living, not just for the dead. In June, DHHS welcomed a new medical examiner, Dr. Deirdre Amaro. Because processes differ between states and counties, Dr. Amaro wants to highlight the ways the Utah OME plays a unique role in the lives of Utahns. Utah is one of only 11 states with a centralized statewide medical examiner office (Source). It’s also accredited by the National Association of Medical Examiners.
“In some places, working as a medical examiner means you deal with death investigations, and everything else is secondary. In Utah, however, the work we do is for the benefit of the living,” said Amaro. “We still face death every single day, which some people think desensitizes us to it. In reality, the exact opposite is true; because death is a part of our jobs, we find meaning and purpose in the unique opportunities we get to serve, protect, and support the living.”
The OME investigates and determines the cause and manner of deaths that are sudden, unexpected, or occur under suspicious circumstances. This includes cases related to accidents, homicides, suicides, and deaths without clear medical explanations.
In many ways, the OME’s impact on the living is direct; they have staff who communicate directly with the decedent’s next of kin, offering explanations, support, and resources. The OME also helps organize and assist with organ and tissue donation—with a single donor able to help up to 100 people. The OME also conducts investigations into suspicious and unexplained deaths to help law enforcement solve crimes and provide closure to affected families.
One of the most vital ways that Utah’s OME serves Utahns is by contributing to public health and medical research. Utah operates on a centralized, statewide medical examiner system, leading to consistent records and more reliable data, which can be confidently used to find patterns and see warning signs for looming public health crises. This valuable data has been used to inform public health policies and identify emerging health trends.
Some examples of public health issues the OME’s research has impacted include the opioid epidemic and suicide prevention and understanding. Utah was the one of the first states to warn about the opioid epidemic and has defied the nationwide trend of increasing drug overdoses following the COVID-19 pandemic. OME research, in collaboration with the University of Utah, has also led to an increased understanding of the biological and neurological differences of people who died by suicide.
“As part of the Utah Department of Health and Human Services, the OME plays a crucial role in safeguarding public health and safety,” said Tracy Gruber, DHHS executive director. “Their insights and findings guide our focus and allow us to identify and address threats to our community. They treat the dead with honor and respect, but they also devote themselves to the living by making sure all Utahns have fair and equitable opportunities to live healthy and safe lives.”
Learn more at https://ome.utah.gov/.