ABSTRACT
Establishment of the cause of water-related deaths is but one task in the certižcation of death. Assignment of the manner of death is the additional requirement for death certižcation. Only a‹er a complete analysis of the historical and terminal circumstances, examination of evidence, and interpretation of autopsy and toxicological žndings can the most accurate cause and manner of death be applied. Even with such careful and comprehensive review, incomplete information or uninterpretable žndings may warrant the ruling of the cause or manner of death as “undetermined.” A homicidal ruling will prompt further legal inquiry and investigation, with the likelihood for future legal and judicial actions utilizing expert testimony regarding evidence and autopsy žndings. Immediate family members of a homicide victim may be eligible for state-funded monetary compensation. An accidental ruling involving personal watercra‹, safety-related equipment, or pools may evoke questions regarding product defects and the degree of trained supervision, prompting civil litigation. e creation of awareness about certain equipment defects can provide widespread benežt via prompting redesign, with prevention of future deaths. Even suicidal deaths may prompt questions from families as to whether their loved ones were adequately medicated with the proper psychiatric medication(s). At any point in time, a‹er a water-related death (or any death), a‹er the scene investigation, and a‹er the autopsy, unanticipated questions and concerns may surface. A thorough investigation along with performance of a complete autopsy, meticulous documentation of all žndings, and proper handling of evidence can answer many important questions, alleviate concerns, and even provide links to new and previously undiscovered information and evidence in unsolved cases.
