The Medical Examiner investigates all deaths that occur in Philadelphia which are deemed to be sudden, unexpected, and/or unnatural. This includes all deaths relating to an injury, intoxication, abuse, neglect, and/or poisoning. This also includes deaths of people in apparent good health, deaths occurring before a diagnosis of natural causes can be made, and deaths occurring while in police custody.

Law enforcement, doctors, hospitals, funeral directors, and others including friends and family members can report any deaths that they believe might meet those criteria. An investigator or pathologist will ultimately determine whether or not an investigation is needed.

• Step 1: Call our Investigations Unit at (215) 685-7445 to complete the identification process.
• Step 2: Choose a funeral home or crematory to pick up the remains.
• Step 3: Call our Investigations Unit to let them know what funeral home/crematory you have selected.

One of our forensic pathologists will examine the remains. There are three types of examination:

• External exam: the outside of the body is examined for evidence of injury or disease; tissue samples are collected for any necessary testing.
• Limited exam: an external exam plus focused examination of the internal organ(s) of a particular body area.
• Full autopsy: an external exam plus examination of all internal organs.

Some cases require a medicolegal autopsy to document internal disease or extent of injury and to collect evidence and toxicology specimens (see below).

Examinations are determined on a case-by-case basis. The Medical Examiner determines the type and extent of examination that is appropriate for each person who died.

A medicolegal autopsy is a specialized examination by a forensic pathologist who is trained to recognize patterns of injury and disease. Forensic pathologists collect evidence and process information from various sources, such as police reports and medical records, to help determine a cause and manner of death.

Samples of tissue, organs, and body fluids may be taken for toxicology tests and examination. In rare instances, complete organs, such as a brain or heart, may be retained for further examination by a specialist and tested to help with diagnosis of injury or disease. The autopsy report will state that additional diagnostic testing was done.

Results from tests may take weeks or even months. Once completed, an autopsy may resolve important issues related to cause and manner of death, which may help resolve legal, public health, and insurance issues.

Families may object to medicolegal autopsies, which will be noted in the medical record. The Medical Examiner will override objections when there are compelling reasons to do so. Families are contacted if accommodation cannot be made to honor objections to autopsies.

The Medical Examiner will address concerns families may have regarding an autopsy and may modify procedures, in consultation with senior staff, to work with bereaved families. These autopsies are performed to answer medicolegal questions that are in the public interest, meaning the autopsy addresses legal or public health concerns. Autopsies on those who have undergone external examinations will not be done without compelling reasons.

All specimens (including tissue samples or, in rare instances, an organ) will be kept at our office for varying amounts of time based on office policies and procedures. Once necessary testing is completed, all specimens will be cremated.

The Medical Examiner is sensitive to the needs and concerns of families and funeral directors. For that reason, incisions are made in ways that allow for open-casket funerals. The amount of tissue preserved and retained is small, usually less than a pound. Very rarely, an entire organ is retained for future testing.  Written reports indicate when tissue or whole organs are retained or kept for further investigation. After completing an autopsy, any material not retained for further examination is released with the body to the funeral director and written autopsy reports and death certificates are issued.

We do not offer viewings at our office. The funeral home of your choice can arrange for your family to view your loved one’s remains.

No, we do not charge any fee for keeping a body at our office.

The remains can be released once the pathologist has completed their examination, usually within 24 hours of the body arriving at our office.

Remains are released to funeral homes/crematories daily between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.

The remains will be stored at our secure facility for up to 30 days. The 30-day time limit starts upon successful identification of the remains.

Our investigators will call you during this 30-day window to verify whether or not arrangements have been made.

Note: our phone number may appear as “Unknown” or as a random “215-218 ….” number on caller ID.  Please call us back at 215-685-7445.

If no arrangements are made at the end of this 30-day window, the remains will be cremated via City Cremation (see below).

All personal property found on someone who died is documented by the Medical Examiner’s Office. Legal next of kin can claim personal property after presenting valid identification.

In cases where next of kin are unable to travel to the Medical Examiner’s Office, arrangements may be made to release property in accordance with the Office’s policies and procedures. Property may also be released to funeral directors authorized to receive remains for final disposition.

Cause of death is a medical disease, injury, or substance that initiated a chain of events that led to someone’s death.

Manner of death is determined by circumstances surrounding a death. Manner of death can be natural, accidental, by suicide, by homicide, or undetermined.

Frequently, a cause and manner of death are listed as “pending” on death certificates. Final determination may be delayed until medical records are thoroughly reviewed, or police and fire investigations are completed. Testing for drugs and alcohol may also cause delays in final determinations. Funeral arrangements and subsequent burials or cremations do not need to be delayed if a cause and manner of death are pending.

The Medical Examiner may take over jurisdiction and investigate an apparent natural death for several reasons. If the death was unexpected and no medical cause can be determined, the Medical Examiner will investigate. If the person who died was not under the care of a physician, the Medical Examiner will investigate so that a death certificate can be issued. If someone’s death was caused by something that might be a public health hazard the Medical Examiner will investigate. Any death occurring under unknown or suspicious circumstances or to someone who was at risk for injury or violence will also be investigated.

You can get copies of the death certificate from the PA Division of Vital Records. Call (724) 656-3100 or visit Ordering a Death Certificate.

Autopsy and toxicology reports are available to the legal next of kin of the person who died upon written request. These reports are also available upon request to City officials, law enforcement agencies, hospitals and physicians, and Fatality Review Committees. Others who make inquiries can receive the cause and manner of death.

Time needed to complete an autopsy report varies by the nature and complexity of the examination. Reports may be completed within 90 days or less. However, more complicated cases may take longer if they require further investigation or additional testing.

While our office cannot recommend a funeral home/crematory, our social workers at Bereavement Support Services can offer resources and referral to special financial support for funeral costs.

Bereavement Support Services contact information:

• Monday-Friday: (215) 685-7411, (215) 685-7402, or (215) 685-7448
• Sundays: (215) 685-7408

The City of Philadelphia cremates bodies of deceased individuals if no next of kin is found or if the family is unwilling/unable to make private funeral arrangements.

Each body is cremated individually by a local crematory.  The ashes are then returned to our office. One of our social workers will attempt to notify you when the ashes are ready to be picked up.

The time until ashes are returned to our office varies and may take up to several months.

Each body is cremated individually. After cremation, the ashes are first placed in a plastic bag for protection. This plastic bag is then placed in a sturdier container (usually plastic) labeled with your loved one’s name.

Our office does not sell or provide urns.

Once a body is provided a City Cremation, it is considered to be “surrendered” by the family to the City.  This means that any person can legally pick up ashes from a City Cremation, regardless of their relationship to the person who died.

No. However, it remains important to remember that the decedent is considered surrendered to the City in this process. This means that any person can legally pick up ashes from a City Cremation, regardless of their relationship to the person who died.

Ashes from City Cremation are stored at our office for at least one year and up to two years from the date of death.

No. Our office is unable to ship ashes in the mail. Our social workers at Bereavement Support Services can help you find a funeral home that can ship them.

Bereavement Support Services contact information:

• Monday through Friday: 215-685-7411, 215-685-7402, or 215-685-7448.
• Sundays: 215-685-7408.

After being stored at our office for up to two years, the ashes will be buried at a local cemetery in a sealed vault.