Media Release

For Immediate Release
Date: June 3, 2005
Contact: Robert Marshall, PhD. 401-222-1017

Chief State Medical Examiner Leaves Office

Today, Dr. David Gifford, Director of HEALTH, accepted the resignation of Dr. Elizabeth Laposata, Chief of the Office of the State Medical Examiners, effective immediately. Dr. Jennifer Swartz, Deputy Chief Medical Examiner, has accepted the position of Interim Chief of the Office. The work of the Office of the State Medical Examiner will continue uninterrupted.

One of Dr. Gifford’s top priorities as Director of HEALTH is quality improvement in the Medical Examiner’s Office. Staff throughout the department have been assigned to assist the Medical Examiner’s Office in assessing and addressing the critical needs of the office. As a result of these efforts, it recently came to light that there are hundreds of cases in the Medical Examiner’s office in which the final written autopsy report has not been completed--despite having completed the autopsy and all associated tests and investigations. The incomplete reports do not impact the medical or legal standing of the cases. However, this report status does not conform with national standards and conflicts with information provided to the Director in March 2005 by the Medical Examiner indicating that 95% of the cases are completed within six months.

The Director immediately asked the Bureau of Audits to assist the department in addressing the situation so that a full evaluation and disclosure of the status of autopsy reports can be made. Once the relevant data are available, the Office of the State Medical Examiner Status Report will be corrected and re-issued.

The Department of Health has started a national search for a new Chief Medical Examiner and is confident that Dr. Swartz’s experience and expertise will continue to support the efforts to improve operations in the Office of the State Medical Examiner. HEALTH also plans to reorganize the Medical Examiner’s office to assure a higher level of management accountability, performance and customer service.