Office of the Chief Medical Examiner

Over the years as Canada developed, individuals were appointed as Coroners to investigate sudden deaths. In recent years some provinces including Nova Scotia have adopted a Medical Examiner system. The Medical Examiner system is relatively recent in origin and has been developed only within the last 20 years.

Nova Scotia's Medical Examiner system has been both legislatively and operationally implemented and has fully replaced the coroner's system. The enactment of provincial legislation in 1960 the, 'Fatality Inquiries Act', established the jurisdiction and role of the Medical Examiner. In recent years some amendments have been made to the 'Act'. In 1989 an amendment to the 'Act' allowed the appointment of a Chief Medical Examiner for the province (prior to this each county had their own Chief Medical Examiner). An amendment in 1992 required that the Chief Medical Examiner for Nova Scotia must be a duly qualified medical practitioner who has special training in pathology, who is eligible for registration in the Medical Register of the Province of Nova Scotia as a pathologist and who meets any other additional requirements prescribed by the regulations. There have been a number of complaints about the Act over the years indicating a need for a comprehensive review. Currently this is being addressed for the purpose of law reform.

In 1996 the Chief Medical Examiner recognized the need for the assistance of individuals to facilitate in the completion of death investigation. At this time two part time Medical Examiner Investigators (RN's) joined the team. Their role included comprehensive completion of death investigation. In 1999 the hiring of two full time coordinators of investigation was an important step in facilitating correct assessment and completion of death. This satisfied the demand from the public for efficient and accurate investigations

Mission Statement

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner serving under the Nova Scotia Department of Justice is committed to providing investigation of all deaths due to violence, undue means, culpable negligence and unexpected/unexplained deaths throughout the province. The Office provides written documentation including cause and manner of death and make reports available to next-of-kin and appropriate agencies.

The Chief Medical Examiner's Office is responsible for investigation of unexpected/ unexplained deaths. This may ultimately result in a requirement for completion of a post mortem examination. The death investigation involves communication with the families of the deceased who encompass different religious and ethnic beliefs and customs, and who occasionally raise objections to post mortem examination. While we respect the families' wishes, it is the duty and responsibility of the Medical Examiner to order and ensure completion of a post mortem examination when required to complete the investigation.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is staffed by a group of professionals bound by an ethical code to perform their duties with strict adherence to confidentiality, accuracy, integrity and without bias. The Medical Examiner system, under the direction of the Chief Medical Examiner, is managed from a central provincial office located in Halifax. The Office administers the complete province of Nova Scotia and has a permanent staff of two Coordinators of Investigation, an Administrative Officer, a Health Records Technician and a Secretary. The fee-for-service element is provided by five medical investigators (on duty and available 24 hours a day), 55 medical examiners, with additional fee-for-service support provided by pathologists. The assistance and expertise of specialists in several areas (anthropology, entomology, forensic dentistry, psychiatry, psychology, etc.) is available by consultation on a fee-for-service basis. Body removal services is provided on a contract basis.

Toxicology testing in non-criminal cases is completed at the QEII Health Sciences Centre in Halifax. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police Forensic Laboratory in Halifax completes testing in criminal and suspicious cases. Other specialty are provided on as-required basis utilizing outside resources both in and out of the province of Nova Scotia.

Organ and tissue donation remains a focus for the Medical Examiner's Office. Several donations were made possible through the cooperation of the Transplantation Services, hospitals, the Medical Examiner's Office, and most importantly, next-of-kin.