GBI Medical Examiner's Office
The Medical Examiner's Office of the Georgia
Bureau of Investigation provides complete forensic pathology
services to 153 of Georgia’s 159 counties in deaths
which qualify as coroner cases under the Georgia Death Investigation
Act. The Chief Medical Examiner for the State of Georgia oversees
the GBI’s medical examiner (M.E.) program and also establishes
policies and guidelines for all Georgia coroners and local
medical examiners.
Autopsies are conducted by GBI medical examiners at the headquarters
laboratory in Decatur and in the regional laboratories in
Augusta, Macon, Moultrie, Savannah and Summerville. Staff
at the headquarters medical examiner’s office consists
of eight medical examiners, ten investigators, five forensic
pathology assistants, two photographers, two secretaries,
and three transcriptionists. One of the medical examiners
at the headquarters lab specializes in pediatric pathology
and the evaluation of fatal and non-fatal pediatric injury.
There are two medical examiners and two investigators in
the Savannah Regional Office along with a transcriptionist
and a forensic pathology assistant. The other regional labs
mentioned above have a medical examiner, an investigator,
a forensic pathology assistant, and a transcriptionist.
In addition to the forensic pathology responsibilities, the
headquarters office also has a forensic anthropologist on
staff for the recovery and examination of skeletal remains.
Death cases are reported to the Medical Examiner’s
Office by coroners, deputy coroners, and law enforcement.
The Medical Examiner’s Office determines if an examination
will be performed. This office investigates deaths that fall
under one or more of the following categories:
- Those deaths that are apparently homicidal, suicidal,
or occurring under suspicious or unknown circumstances
- Resulting from the unlawful use of controlled substances
or the use or abuse of chemicals or toxic agents.
- Occurring while incarcerated or while in the custody
of a law enforcement officer .
- Apparently accidental or following an injury.
- By disease, injury or toxic agent during or arising from
employment.
- While not under the care of a physician during the period
immediately preceding the death.
- Related to disease which might constitute a threat to
the health of the general public.
- In which human remains have been disposed of in an offensive
manner.
Requests for examinations are received 24 hours a day, 7
days a week by the headquarters section of the M.E.’s
Office. Cases accepted for examination are transported to
the respective laboratory by transport services provided by
the county where the death occurred or where the body was
found.
In their examinations of the deceased, forensic pathologists
aim to determine the cause and manner of death. Cause is why
the person died or the medical reason for the death; that
is, the injury or disease responsible for the death. Manner
is how the person died or the circumstances that led to the
cause of death.
Georgia Death Investigation
Act
Manners of Death
Medical Examiners
The Child Abuse Investigative Support Center
DeKalb
County Medical Examiner's Office
Fulton County Medical Examiner's
Office
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