Forensics 101: How the ME Interfaces with Organ and Tissue Procurement Agencies (Individual)

The presentation will provide an introduction to what goes on in the typical medical examiner’s office on a daily basis. General injury terms and other medical examiner jargon will be explained and processes such as establishing cause and manner of death and death certification will be presented. We will go through the steps involved in a typical autopsy and provide examples of common findings in cases such as drug overdoses and trauma. To tie things together, this ME/Coroner’s will provide his perspective on allowing organ and tissue procurement prior to or after autopsy, as appropriate, and suggestions will be offered to ensure a smooth ME/Coroner-OPO relationship. Disclosure: Dr. Caruso is on the Donor Alliance Advisory Board (unpaid) and his father was a liver transplant recipient in 1999.

Jim Caruso, MD

Chief Medical Examiner and Coroner

City and County of Denver

Dr. Jim Caruso is the Chief Medical Examiner and Coroner for the City and County of Denver. He received his undergraduate and medical training at the University of Illinois and completed a Pathology residency and a fellowship in Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine at Duke University Medical Center. Dr. Caruso subsequently completed a Forensic Pathology fellowship at the Office of the Maryland Medical Examiner in Baltimore. He then served as Deputy Chief Medical Examiner for the Armed Forces and Regional Armed Forces Medical Examiner for Asia and the Pacific. Memorable cases include the investigation of the Space Shuttle Columbia mishap and the autopsy of former professional football player Pat Tillman. Captain Caruso spent nearly 30-years in the United States Navy during which time he served as both a Diving Medical Officer and a Flight Surgeon. He has published numerous scientific abstracts, peer-reviewed papers, and book chapters in the areas of forensic pathology and diving medicine. Dr. Caruso resides with his wife Pamela in Castle Rock, CO and has a daughter at Colorado State University and another at the University of Colorado.