Medical Examiner/Coroners
Please note, this information is intended for medical professionals. If you have reached this page in error, please return to the home page.
Individuals involved in medicolegal death investigation (medical examiner/coroner staff members, district attorneys, law enforcement, etc.) play a vital role in ensuring that donors and their families are not unreasonably denied the opportunity to share the gift of life upon their death. Preserving and protecting this opportunity for all potential donors requires cooperation and collaboration between those responsible for medicolegal death investigation and our organization.
Educational Opportunities
Ally in Organ Donation and Death Investigation
We offer a virtual training program that can be completed at a time that it is most convenient for you. This training is accredited by the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators (ABDMI) for 1 hour of CEU and covers the following topics:
- Overview of the Training Program
- General Process – What can you expect from our team?
- Donation after Death by Neurological Criteria (Brain Death)
- Donation after Circulatory Death
- Authorization for Donation
- Overview of the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act (UAGA)
- Collaboration between Organ Donation and the Death Investigation Process
- The Donor Recovery Center
To sign up for this training course, please click here.
Resources
Oregon State Police Medical Examiner Division Position Statement on Organ, Tissue, and Eye Procurement Organization Collaboration with County-Level Medical Examiner Systems
The Oregon State Police Medical Examiner Division issued a position statement in 2024 advocating for a harmonious partnership between county-level medical examiner offices and organ and tissue procurement organizations to best honor the wishes of donors and/or their families, increase transplantation rates, and save the lives of recipients on the waiting list while preserving the integrity of forensic investigations. Read that position statement here:
National Association of Medical Examiners Position Statement on Release of Organs and Tissues for Transplantation
The National Association of Medical Examiners issued an original position paper in 2015, which was reissued as a position statement in 2019 regarding medical examiner release of organs and tissues for transplantation that states the goal of every ME/C (medical examiner/coroner) office should be “zero denials” when it comes to release organs and tissues for donation. It is Cascade Life Alliance’s desire to work collaboratively with medical examiners and coroners to support this goal of “zero denials” all while supporting the needs of the death investigation. Position Statement
Regulatory/Statutory References
Idaho Revised Uniform Anatomical Gift Act
Oregon Revised Uniform Anatomical Gift Act (ORS 97.951-985)
Oregon Uniform Determination of Death Act Language (ORS 112.582)
Washington Uniform Anatomical Gift Act (RCW 68.64.010-68.64.903)
Washington Supreme Court Case In RE Bowman, Uniform Determination of Death Act Language
Contact the Forensic Integration Team
Please feel free to reach out to our Forensic Integration Team regarding any questions you have related to organ donation.
Phone: 503.494.4696