TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Rollie Soria for Oscar Ortiz, Sheriff-Coroner
REPORT BY: Erin Corry, Staff Services Analyst
SUBJECT: Amendment No. 3 of Agreement No. 170259B with United Forensic Services
RECOMMENDATION
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Approve and authorize Amendment No. 3 to Agreement No. 170259B with United Forensic Services, P.C. for autopsy and forensic pathology services. (Fiscal Impact: $80,000 Expense; General Fund; Budgeted; Mandatory)
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BACKGROUND
The Sheriff, in his role as Coroner, is responsible for investigating all unattended, unusual or suspicious deaths in Napa County. The Sheriff and Coroner's offices are combined, this means that every sworn deputy is also a Deputy Coroner on behalf of the Sheriff-Coroner. Deputy Coroner's investigate each Coroner case to determine the identity of the decedent, securing of decedent's property, notification to next of kin, and the circumstances surrounding each death. The Sheriff-Coroner and deputy coroner's then work with a board-certified Forensic Pathologist, who assist in the investigation through file review, external examinations, and autopsies. As the medical doctor, and by statute, only the Forensic Pathologist (doctor) can determine the "Cause of Death" for Death Certificate purposes, because it is a medical diagnosis. The Sheriff-Coroner, however, is tasked with determining the Manner of Death from one of five categories: Natural, Accident, Suicide, Homicide and Undetermined. The staff of the Sheriff-Coroner and the Forensic Pathologist work as a team to provide Coroner services to the community. The Sheriff-Coroner must contract with a licensed forensic pathologist to provide this function of the county government.
Since January 2011, the Sheriff's Office has contracted with United Forensic Services (UFS) for autopsy and pathology services. The market for experienced and licensed forensic pathologists is very competitive. According to the National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME) there are approxim...
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