District 22 Medical Examiner Search Committee May 2022 Overview
The District 22 Medical Examiner's Office serves over 194,000 residents of Charlotte County, providing crucial forensic services. The office is staffed by a team led by Dr. Riazul Imami, with workload data showing a significant caseload involving autopsies, investigations, and other tasks. Challenges include the identification of drugs in cases, particularly fentanyl-related deaths. The office's budget has seen a steady increase over the years as it continues to uphold its responsibilities effectively.
Download Presentation
Please find below an Image/Link to download the presentation.
The content on the website is provided AS IS for your information and personal use only. It may not be sold, licensed, or shared on other websites without obtaining consent from the author. Download presentation by click this link. If you encounter any issues during the download, it is possible that the publisher has removed the file from their server.
E N D
Presentation Transcript
DISTRICT 22 MEDICAL EXAMINER SEARCH COMMITTEE May 2022
District 22 The Medical Examiner s Office provides service to more than 194,000 residents of Charlotte County. (United States Census Bureau Population Estimates, July 1, 2021)
Medical Examiners Office District 22 Chief Medical Examiner One Director of Operations One Full-Time Forensic Investigator/Autopsy Assistant One Part-Time Forensic Investigator/Autopsy Assistant One Part-Time Clerk Total number of full-time employees 3 Total number of part-time employees -2
Medical Examiners Office District 22 Budget FY 18-19: $613,158 FY 19-20: $646,800 FY 20-21: $682,236 FY 21-22: $723,605
Medical Examiners Office District 22 Organization District Chief Medical Examiner Dr. RiazulImami, M.D., Ph.D Director of Operations Penny Fulton Forensic Forensic Investigator/Autopsy Assistant Part Time Leslie Husbands Clerk Investigator/Autopsy Assistant Full Time Gregory Scharf Desiree Tufano
2021 Annual Report Workload Data 141 Autopsies 410 Investigations 72 Inspections (external exams only) 224 Death Certificates Signed 2,774 Cremations Approved
Challenges FDLE Drug Data Report Drugs Identified in Medical Examiner s Cases 2019 and 2020 Reports Fentanyl Deaths January-December 2019 District 22 Charlotte County 23 Fentanyl Deaths January-December 2020 District 22 Charlotte County-26
Medical Examiners Commission Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) 2020 Annual Report
District 22 Occurrences Per 100,000 Population Charlotte County: 10.00-14.99 ( 2020 Medical Examiners Commission Drug Report)
The Law Florida Statutes The Medical Examiners Act Appointment 406.06(1)(a) F.S. District medical examiners; associates; suspension of medical examiners. - A district medical examiner shall be appointed by the Governor for each medical examiner district from nominees who are practicing physicians in pathology, whose nominations are submitted to the Governor by the Medical Examiners Commission. The term of office of each district medical examiner shall be 3 years. An appointment to fill a vacancy shall be for the unexpired portion of the term.
The Law The Medical Examiners Act Associate ME 406.06(2) F.S. The district medical examiner may appoint as many physicians as associate medical examiners as may be necessary to provide service at all times and all places within the district. Associate medical examiners shall serve at the pleasure of the district medical examiner. The district medical examiner shall file an affidavit with the supervisor of elections in the county in which she or he resides assuring that associate medical examiners have no conflicting financial interests or clients represented before agencies pursuant to s. 112.3145.
The Law The Medical Examiners Act Salary 406.06(3) F.S. District medical examiners and associate medical examiners shall be entitled to compensation and such reasonable salary and fees as are established by the board of county commissioners in the respective districts.
The Law The Medical Examiners Act Ethics 406.06(5) F.S. District medical examiners and associate medical examiners are public officers for purposes of s. 112.313 and the standards of conduct prescribed thereunder.
The Law The Medical Examiners Act Funding 406.08 F.S. Payment of fees, salaries, and expenses; transportation costs; facilities. (1) Fees, salaries, and expenses may be paid from the general funds or any other funds under the control of the board of county commissioners. The district medical examiner shall submit an annual budget to the board of county commissioners.
The Law The Medical Examiners Act ME Job Duties 406.11(1) F.S. Examinations, investigations, and autopsies. In any of the following circumstances involving the death of a human being, the medical examiner of the district in which the death occurred or the body was found shall determine the cause of death and certify the death and shall, for that purpose, make or perform such examinations, investigations, and autopsies as he or she deems necessary or as requested by the state attorney:
The Law The Medical Examiners Act Circumstances 406.11(1)(a) F.S. When any person dies in this state:1. Of criminal violence. 2. By accident. 3. By suicide. 4. Suddenly, when in apparent good health. 5. Unattended by a practicing physician or other recognized practitioner. 6. In any prison or penal institution. 7. In police custody. 8. In any suspicious or unusual circumstance. 9. By criminal abortion. 10. By poison. 11. By disease constituting a threat to public health. 12. By disease, injury, or toxic agent resulting from employment. (b) When a dead body is brought into this state without proper medical certification. (c) When a body is to be cremated, dissected, or buried at sea.
The Law The Medical Examiners Act Duty of Law Enforcement Officers 406.14 F.S. Duty of law enforcement officers. Any evidence material to the determination of the cause of death in possession of the law enforcement officers assigned to the investigation of the death shall be made available to the medical examiner. It is the duty of the law enforcement officer assigned to and investigating the death to immediately establish and maintain liaison with the medical examiner during the investigation into the cause of death.
The Law The Medical Examiners Act Examiner s Report; Maintenance of Records 406.13 F.S. Examiner s report; maintenance of records. Upon receipt of such notification pursuant to s. 406.12, the district medical examiner or her or his associate shall examine or otherwise take charge of the dead body and shall notify the appropriate law enforcement agency pursuant to s. 406.145. When the cause of death has been established within reasonable medical certainty by the district medical examiner or her or his associate, she or he shall so report or make available to the state attorney, in writing, her or his determination as to the cause of said death. Duplicate copies of records and the detailed findings of autopsy and laboratory investigations shall be maintained by the district medical examiner. Any evidence or specimen coming into the possession of said medical examiner in connection with any investigation or autopsy may be retained by the medical examiner or be delivered to one of the law enforcement officers assigned to the investigation of the death.
The Law The Medical Examiners Act Expert Witness Fees 406.09 Expert witness fees. District medical examiners or associate medical examiners shall be entitled to expert witness fees as provided by law.
DISTRICT 22 MEDICAL EXAMINER SEARCH COMMITTEE PROCEDURES May 2022
V. Establishing the Search Committee Rule 11G-5.004(3), Florida Administrative Code, requires the Chairman of the Medical Examiners Commission to call for a district candidate search committee to be established when a district medical examiner position becomes vacant. Under the rule, the district search committee is responsible for completing the interview process and candidate selection. The committee is also responsible for recommending a candidate(s) to the Medical Examiners Commission. Since the district candidate search committee has delegated decision making authority by the Commission and has a decision making function in screening applicants, all activities of the committee should be open and noticed to the public.
Open Meetings Within 30 days of being notified of a vacancy or anticipated vacancy, the Chairman of the Commission shall call for a district candidate search committee to be established and appoint a chairman. As is required for all gatherings, whether formal or casual, of two or more members, where some matter being discussed will foreseeably come before the Commission for action: Meetings of the search committee must be open to the public. Reasonable notice of meetings must be given. Minutes of meetings must be taken and open to public inspection.
Search Committee 2. The search committee shall consist of invited representatives from the offices of the state attorney(s), public defender(s), sheriff(s), police chief(s), county commission(s) or other entity that is responsible for the budget of the district medical examiner office, funeral homes, and a representative of the local medical community from within that medical examiner district. 3. The search committee shall also comprise a physician member of the Medical Examiners Commission or other medical examiner designated by the Commission Chairman.
Search Committee Members District 22 Medical Examiner Members of District 22 Medical Examiner Search Committee chaired by State Attorney Amira Fox, 20thJudicial Circuit: Dr. Barbara Wolf, Medical Examiner, Districts 5 & 24 The Honorable Kathy Smith, Public Defender, 20thJudicial Circuit Sheriff Bill Prummell, Charlotte County Sheriff Chief Pam Davis, Punta Gorda Police Department Commissioner Chris Constance, Charlotte County Board of County Commissioners The Honorable Ken Roberson, Roberson Funeral Homes Dr. Joseph Ravid, GulfviewMedical Institute
Search Committee Responsibilities The duties of the search committee are as follows. 1. Seek applications from interested persons who are licensed physicians and experienced practitioners of pathology, and who possess qualifications to take the examination or already possess the primary certification offered by the American Board of Pathology, American Osteopathic Board of Pathology, or equal qualification rendered by a non-United States medical specialty certifying agency.
Interviews Establish an interview team, which shall have a quorum of three participants, to interview interested candidates that meet the minimum position qualifications. If the district includes a medical school, the dean of the medical school should be invited to participate as a member of the interview team.
Budget Ensure that the candidate(s) recommended to the Commission for nomination as district medical examiner is in agreement with the respective county representatives regarding the medical examiner budget as outlined in s. 406.06(3), Florida Statutes.
Background Inquiries Review background information about the final candidate(s) from present and past sources. Background inquiries should incorporate information on work performance and working relationships, as well as the candidate(s) reasons for, and circumstances of, leaving employment. At a minimum, background information should include: a. a criminal history check; b. comments of county medical associations, local hospitals, government agencies and funeral homes with which the candidate(s) has a prior working relationship; and c. employment references.
Committee to Commission Complete the candidate selection and interview process and submit packages to Commission staff for review. Candidate packages must be submitted to the Commission within 90 days of appointment of the candidate search committee unless additional time is requested in writing and approved by the Commission Chairman.
Candidate Ratings For each candidate recommended to the Commission for nomination, include a rating for each candidate, if appropriate, and include a cover letter that explains the rating methodology.
Package Requirements Each candidate package must include: a. pertinent correspondence regarding the candidate(s); b. results of background inquiries; c. letters of reference; and d. a letter from the candidate(s) to Commission staff authorizing the release of information from former employers and the Board of Medicine in the state in which the candidate(s) is or was licensed.
VII. Submission of Candidate Package Commission staff shall review interview packages for completeness prior to their submission to the Commission, and if directed by the Chairman, make additional inquiries concerning the candidate s background or qualification. 1. Commission staff shall verify each candidate s medical licensure status. 2. Commission staff shall notify all candidates in writing of the time and place of the Commission meeting at which the district nomination(s) will be considered.
