CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Forensic pathologists in West Virginia are being asked to perform at least twice as many autopsies as the national best practice standard, resulting in significant delays, the state office of the chief examiner said Tuesday.
“Make no bones about it, our performance is not satisfactory,” said Matthew Izzo, administrative director of the West Virginia Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.West Virginia Public Broadcasting chief steps down in latest shake-up at news outletThe office is expected to conduct a total of 3,600 to 3,800 autopsies this year with a staff of around six full-time pathologists.
West Virginia does not perform an autopsy — a post-mortem surgical procedure by a forensic pathologist to determine the cause of death — for all people. Autopsies are reserved for homicides, suicides, deaths of children and those in correctional facilities, and other unexpected cases.