ABSTRACT
There are only a few national organizations that are directly involved with death investigation issues in the U.S. A general description of each one is provided below.
The National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME) is based in Atlanta, GA, and was established in 1966. Originally located in New York City, the headquarters moved to Wilmington, DE, then to St. Louis, and then to Atlanta in 2003. The membership of this organization consists primarily of medical examiners who are physicians, although physician coroners also qualify for membership. There is an affiliate category of membership for the office administrators and investigators who work in medical examiners’ and coroners’ offices. NAME has an annual meeting at which they conduct their business and present scientific presentations and this meeting usually occurs in September or October of each year. In addition, it usually has a one-day interim meeting in February, during the week in which the American Academy of Forensic Sciences meeting is held (see below). The total membership of the National Association of Medical Examiners is approximately 800 individuals of which about 150 are affiliates and the rest are full medical examiner members. The organization addresses issues that are relevant to medical examiner practices, including the development of standards and guidelines, and they also respond to general issues that affect medical examiners and coroners. The association is the official sponsor of the
American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology
, which has numerous articles concerning death investigation issues and is published four times per year. An internet discussion group called NAME-L is also used by the membership, and NAME has a web site at www.TheNAME.org.
