Medical Examiner

The primary function of the Iowa County Medical Examiner’s Office is to determine a logical, scientific, and unbiased cause and manner of death for those deaths that fall within its jurisdiction. 

The State of Iowa uses an appointed physician medical examiner system.  The Iowa County Medical Examiner’s Office is made up of a Chief Medical Examiner, Deputy Medical Examiner, and Medical Examiner Investigators.  These roles are all appointed by the Iowa County Board of Supervisors.  

The Chief Medical Examiner and Deputy Medical Examiner are physician roles.  The Medical Examiner Investigator, also known as a Medicolegal Investigator, performs death investigations under the supervision of the Chief Medical Examiner.  Medical Examiner Investigators gather information and evidence from scenes to make preliminary determinations as to cause and manner of death.  Medical Examiner Investigators report deaths to the Chief Medical Examiner that are violent, sudden, or suspicious to determine if an autopsy is required under Iowa Code 127.3(1).

Iowa Administrative Code Chapter 127 and Code of Iowa Sections 331.801-805 define the scope and duties of the County Medical Examiner.  The Iowa County Medical Examiner’s Office works in conjunction with the State of Iowa Attorney General’s Office, the Iowa County Attorney’s Office, local, state, and federal law enforcement authorities, and with the Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner.

Our Team