The role of the medical examiner/coroner in organ and tissue procurement for transplantation.

Facts and principles concerning the role of the medical examiner or coroner in the procurement of organs or tissue for transplantation are presented. Topics discussed are the legalities and the importance of control of the dead body, the medical examiner's or coroner's role in the determination of death, recognition of and working around procurement artifacts and resultant loss of evidence, the medical examiner's or coroner's part in determining suitability of organs for transplantation, the medical examiner or coroner's request for donation by the family, granting of permission for donation of organs or tissue by the medical examiner or coroner, and examination of the mortally injured by the medicolegal officer.