According to Health Care Risk Management standards supported by ASHRM and the American Hospital Association Certification Center, deaths resulting from violent, traumatic, or suspicious circumstances are legally reportable to the appropriate medico-legal authority, typically the Office of the Medical Examiner or Coroner. A gunshot wound constitutes a violent and potentially criminal cause of death, triggering statutory reporting requirements.
When a patient is pronounced dead on arrival due to trauma, particularly with a history suggestive of domestic violence, the death falls within the jurisdiction of the medical examiner. The medical examiner has authority to determine cause and manner of death, order autopsy if indicated, and coordinate with law enforcement to preserve forensic evidence. Hospitals are required by state law to notify this office promptly.
The state Board of Medicine oversees professional licensure and discipline, not death investigation. The Department of Health and Family Services may have reporting roles for public health matters, but traumatic deaths are typically handled by the medical examiner. The public relations department may manage communications but is not a regulatory notification requirement.
Legal and regulatory objectives emphasize compliance with mandatory reporting statutes and preservation of evidence. Therefore, the appropriate entity to notify is the Office of the Medical Examiner.
