Editing Forensic pathology (section)

=== Coroners and medical examiners in the United States ===
In the United States, a coroner is typically an elected [[public official]] in a particular geographic jurisdiction who investigates and certifies deaths. The vast majority of coroners lack a [[Doctor of Medicine]] degree and the amount of medical training that they have received is highly variable, depending on their profession (e.g. law enforcement, judges, funeral directors, emergency medical technicians, nurses).

In contrast, a medical examiner is typically a [[physician]] who holds the degree of [[Doctor of Medicine]] (M.D.) or [[Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine]] (D.O.). Ideally, a medical examiner has completed both a pathology [[residency (medicine)|residency]] and a fellowship in forensic pathology. In some jurisdictions, a medical examiner must be both a doctor and a lawyer, with additional training in forensic pathology.