Coroner training would benefit all citizens BE S T P RAC T I C E S
Arkansas Coroners Association have been on the move and on the right track in improving death investigations in Arkansas.
W In recent
years the Arkansas General Assembly updated the Arkansas Code in death scene investigation and reporting: deaths, child maltreatment and adult maltreatment. Te Legislature has been attentive to the needs for disposition of the dead while extending the abilities for anatomical gifts and passed the “Revised Anatomic Gift Act”. Te 87th
General Assembly sought progress
in coroner training by establishing the Arkan- sas Coroner’s Advisory Task Force Board and the board has made recommendations for the development of standards and training for proper and thorough death investigations and reports. However, needs for in-state training for coro- ners and deputy coroners remain un- addressed. Coroners and deputy coroners in Arkansas are re- sponsible 24/7 for promptly respond- ing to death inves- tigations including crime scenes or scenes of suspicious deaths. Coroners can make a difference for families in determining the cause of death from insurance proceeds to genetic predispositions of siblings.
earthquake arising from the New Madrid Fault. Can it be said we are ready for the next mass casu- alty event? Coroner mass casualty training and readiness are critical, yet sadly lacking.
“N ”
Te citizens of Pope County value the train- ing their coroner applied. Leonard Krout no- ticed a sharp rise in overdoses – from two a year to as many as 12 or 14. Observing the dramatic increase in deaths from overdoses of local teen- agers, young adults and adults in Pope County prompted Krout to start putting two and two together; his training lead him to suspect that a local physician was over-prescribing drugs.
18
ill Rogers once quipped: “Even if you are on the right track you will get run over if you just sit there”.
Te Arkansas General Assembly and the
Federal authorities began an investigation and that physician has since lost his license and been convicted. How many lives of children and other citi-
zens of Pope County were saved by the actions of properly trained county and federal officials in this instance alone? You may be surprised that Pope County Cor-
oner Krout acquired the training in forensic sci- ence necessary to competently perform his job primarily from classes out of the state or those periodically offered in Arkansas. To date the in-state classes have been pri- marily through the State Crime Lab from part of their budget obtained from Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Grants. However, there are no established courses or hours of education credits offered in Arkansas.
one of us want to think about an
Kermit Chan- nell, Executive Director of the Ar- kansas State Crime Laboratory, says that it is impor- tant that coroners in Arkansas have access to in-state forensic science training. However, the training pro- vided from federal grants is limited, tenuous and must be used to train all Crime Laboratory employees, includ- ing the medical ex- aminers. It would be extremely sur- prising if other
states do not have established standards and provide for in-state training for their coroners and deputy coroners. During the 2011 regular session the 88th
General Assembly attended to the need for 911 dispatcher training to be available in Arkansas and passed HB 1741 sponsored by Rep. Uvalde Lindsey, Act 640 of 2011. Similarly, the 87th General Assembly adopted legislation to provide funding for jail operations and jailer training in Arkansas by virtue of passing HB 1382 spon- sored by Rep. Barry Hyde, Act 209 of 2009. Te public benefits from the in-state training provided for law enforcement, jailers and soon
» » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » »
to be available for 911 dis- patchers. How- ever, there are pressing needs for in-state train- ing and for up- dating our laws on cremations. HB 2175 spon- sored by Rep. Darren Williams during the 2011 Regular Session sought to ad- dress these needs.
Research Corner
Mark Whitmore AAC Chief Counsel
Faulkner County residents also realize that
a well-trained coroner can make a difference. Over a half a dozen infant deaths occurred in Faulkner County in which most of the babies did not die from terminal illness.
Faulkner
County Coroner Pat Moore determined most of these disturbing infant deaths were caused by accidental overlay, or sleeping with adults. Tese deaths were tragic and preventable. So, Moore started a public awareness campaign and met with local medical professionals to assure that parents of newborn babies are alerted to the dangers of sleeping with babies. As result, new procedures have been established at a local hos- pital to provide this education to parents.
Furthermore, it is important that during
times of crisis the dead are located and recov- ered with dignity. Te killer tornado that hit Joplin, Missouri resulted in mishandling and misidentification of dead persons. Te Arkansas Department of Emergency Management, the County Judges Association of Arkansas and the Arkansas Department of Health are working together on establishing a mass fatality resource inventory and forming mutual aid agreements. Tis important emergency management project seeks to assure mass transit accidents such as trains, buses, planes or boats (or “white ducks”) make mass casualty readiness vital. None of us want to think about an earth- quake arising from the New Madrid Fault. Can it be said we are ready for the next mass casu- alty event? Coroner mass casualty training and readiness are important, yet sadly lacking. Each year approximately 28,000 deaths oc- cur in Arkansas. Te day-to-day investigation
COUNTY LINES, SUMMER 2011
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64