Doctors Prescribing Medical Examiner Calling The Current Coroner Situation A ‘Public Health Crisis,’ Physicians Push To Get Issue On November Ballot

Citing a “public health crisis,” Spokane doctors are urging county commissioners to support swapping the coroner system for one run by a medical examiner.

The Spokane County Medical Society wants commissioners to quickly draft an ordinance so it can get on the November ballot.

“We feel that the lack of death investigations as well as inaccurate, incomplete and untimely death investigations are contributing to a crisis in public health,” said Dr. Phil Werschler, medical society president.

The society has long been critical of the way Coroner Dexter Amend has done his job. They’ve been critical of the entire coroner system even longer - some 20 years, Werschler said.

The medical society favors giving the coroner’s role to a forensic pathologist who is highly trained in death investigations. Under Washington law, a coroner doesn’t even have to be a doctor.

In March, Gov. Mike Lowry signed a bill giving counties with at least 250,000 people the option of ditching their elected coroners in favor of appointed - and more expensive - medical examiners.

Werschler wrote a letter Monday asking commissioners to plan a public hearing and draft an ordinance as soon as possible.

“There’s not a crisis in the sense that there’s an Ebola outbreak,” said Werschler. “But things are beginning to fall apart.”

One commissioner said he doesn’t understand the rush. Amend’s term doesn’t expire for more than two years, and a medical examiner system can’t be instituted before then, no matter what voters decide, said Commissioner John Roskelley.

Roskelley said he’s leaning toward a medical examiner system and wants to learn more about it.

“If the public is crying out for a public hearing, we’ll definitely do it. But nobody’s really approached us except the medical community.”

Commissioner Phil Harris said he has doubts about whether the county is really experiencing a public health crisis.

“That’s the only letter I’ve received that said it’s any kind of emergency,” Harris said.

“When there was a recall attempt, I didn’t see a preponderance of people supporting that,” he said, referring to a failed attempt to recall Amend.

Commissioner Steve Hasson, however, said he strongly favors tossing the traditional coroner system.

“There’s really two liabilities,” Hasson said. “One is the actions and conduct of the coroner. But as important is the coroner position itself.”

Complicated death investigations call for someone highly trained in forensic pathology - even though a new system would cost more, Hasson said.

Hasson said a county attorney is already writing an ordinance at his request. He favors putting it on the ballot in November.

“I think it’s an important consideration and probably should have the full community exposure the November election would afford.”

, DataTimes