When is the Coroner Called?

When a death occurs, the Coroner's office may be contacted by any person, by a law enforcement agency, by another coroner's office, by a nursing home or hospice organization, or by a hospital.

The Coroner's office reviews all deaths that occur under any of the following circumstances.

In all cases when:

No physician is in attendance
The attending physician has not evaluated the decedent within the 30 days prior to the death
The attending physician is unable or unwilling to certify the cause of death

In cases when death occurs:

Within 24 hours of a hospital admission
In an emergency room or operating room, or immediately following a medical procedure
Under suspicious circumstances
Due to an unexplained cause
Suddenly, in a person who was in good health
From a thermal, chemical, or radiation injury
From criminal abortion, including any situation where such abortion may have been self-induced
From a disease that may be hazardous or contagious, or which may constitute a threat to public health
While the decedent is in the custody of law enforcement officials or incarcerated in a public institution
From an industrial accident
From external violence

Although most calls to the Coroner's office come from official agencies and hospitals, any person may notify the Jefferson County Coroner's Office of a death by calling 303-271-6480.

Last Modified: Mar 28, 2009 10:16 PM