Welcome to the Polk County Medical Examiner Site

The death of a loved one can cause tremendous stress and sorrow. We hope the information provided on this website will assist you during the grieving process and help answer any questions about the autopsy process and the medicolegal system.

What is a Medical Examiner Case?

Chapter 331 of the Code of Iowa, Part 8 clearly defines which cases fall under the jurisdiction of medical examiners. Medical examiner cases include sudden, unexpected, violent or unnatural deaths, and other deaths “affecting the public interest.” The definition of which deaths must be INVESTIGATED by medical examiners actually restricts those deaths which may be certified by physicians who are not medical examiners. Any death in which the manner of death is NOT natural, or any death in which the decedent was NOT seen by a physician within the previous 36 hours (lengthened to 30 days when the decedent had a diagnosed terminal or bedfast condition) MUST be INVESTIGATED by a medical examiner.