When must a medical examiner be notified in Florida?

A medical examiner must be notified in Florida for any death that occurs as a result of criminal violence, accident, or suspicious circumstances. This requirement is established to ensure that such deaths are properly investigated. The involvement of a medical examiner typically aims to determine the cause and manner of death, especially when there may be questions regarding legality or safety involved in the circumstances surrounding the death.

In cases of natural causes, the situation does not warrant a medical examiner's investigation unless it falls under specific criteria that could suggest something atypical. Homicide cases are covered under the broader umbrella of criminal violence, which is why notification is required for all instances of criminal violence, not just homicide. Missing child cases may involve law enforcement and child protective services, but they do not automatically require medical examiner notification unless the circumstances lead to a known fatality connected to the disappearance.