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Gooding County Coroner's
Office
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Elected Official:
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Gary Loder |
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Mail
To:
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Gooding County Courthouse
624 Main Street
Gooding, ID 83330 |
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Phone:
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(208) |
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Fax:
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(208) |
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Email:
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gdloder@yahoo.com |
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Office
Hours:
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737 Main St.
Gooding, ID 83330
Idaho Code
requires the Coroner, who is an elected County official, to be notified
immediately when a body is found or a person is known to be dead. The
Coroner is responsible to investigate the facts surrounding the cause
and manner of death.
A
certificate of each death that occurs in the State of Idaho must be
filed with the Local Registrar of the District (appointed by the State
Registrar of Vital Statistics) within five (5) days after the occurrence
of death. The person in charge of interment or removal of a body from
the County must refer the following cases to the Coroner for
investigation:
- If no
physician was in attendance during the last illness of the deceased;
- When
the circumstances suggest that the death occurred as a result of other
than natural causes;
- When a
death is presumed to have occurred within the State but the body
cannot be located;
- In the
case of a stillbirth of a fetus of twenty (20) weeks or more.
The
Coroner also has the authority to summon a person licensed to practice
medicine in the State of Idaho to inspect the body to help determine the
cause of death and, if needed, to order an autopsy. The Coroner will
arrange for transportation of the body by a licensed funeral home. The
Coroner will prepare an official “Coroner’s Investigative Report.”
The
Coroner shall determine the cause and manner of death of any person
reported as having died under suspicious or unknown circumstances. The
Coroner shall go the location and investigate the death of any person
reported to him or her as having died in any unknown or suspicious
manner or where public health, safety and welfare may be involved. Or
from any accident—auto, in the home, or otherwise—regardless of location
in the County.
The
Coroner will remain with the body until the body is released to the
mortuary. The Coroner is also responsible for securing the home and
personal property until it is released to the family or law enforcement
officers, depending upon the circumstances. A police officer will remain
at the scene until released by the Coroner.
After a
complete investigation, the Coroner shall determine the manner and cause
of death and is charged with notification of family members of a death
occurring in or out of the County.
Frequently Asked Questions
Click on your question to be
directed to the answer..
Answers:
How Do I Obtain a Death
Certificate?
Death Certificates are
usually obtained from the Funeral home handling the funeral service.
There is a fee for each copy obtained.
Who Calls the Coroners?
Any person who has reason to
believe that a death has occurred under the circumstances set out in the
Idaho Code must immediately notify a Coroner.
How is Information Obtained?
Information pertaining to the
death may be obtained from the Coroner as it becomes available.
When the investigation is complete, the Coroner may provide, on request,
to the immediate family (spouse, parent, child, brother, sister) or
personal representative, a copy of the Coroner's investigation
statement. This statement includes information as to date and
place, cause and manner of death and relevant postmortem findings.
Who Performs the Autopsy?
The Coroner directs a
qualified specialist in Pathology to conduct the examination and may
request special examination of particular organs or fluids by other
experts.
If
There is an Inquest, Does the Family Have to Attend?
No, unless a member of the
family is called as a witness.
Why is a Coroner Called When Death is Due to Natural Causes?
A Coroner must not only
investigate all unnatural deaths such as those due to foul play, suicide
and accident. He must also investigate certain natural deaths such
as sudden and unexpected, from illness not under treatment or attended
by a qualified physician; those occurring in certain types of
institutions, and whenever questions can only be answered fairly after
an investigation.
Is an Autopsy Required in
Every Case?
No. The Coroner's
training and experience enables him to decide if the findings required
by law can be determined without an Autopsy (postmortem examination).
About thirty percent of all coroner cases investigated with reports
filed, require medical -legal Autopsies.
Why do Police investigate?
Police respond to all
emergency calls and often are the first at the scene. Police
collect information and supply other services that are needed.
Their experience and training enable the Coroner to carry out as
complete an investigation as possible.
Is Consent
Required for a Medical-Legal Autopsy?
No. Where there are
objections, the Coroner will explain the need for the Autopsy. The
findings of the examination may have important implications for estate
and insurance purposes. The Autopsy will often help to answer
questions regarding hereditary aspects of disease, as well as prevent
anxiety from not knowing what actually caused the death.
Will an Autopsy
Delay Funeral Arrangements?
In most cases the answer is
no. However, some aspects of the investigation, identification for
example, may cause delay. Your Funeral Director will advise you as
to timing of viewing arrangements, etc.
What Organs Can be
Donated After Death?
Organs or tissues in greatest
demand are eyes, kidneys, liver, joints and bones, vascular tissue,
heart and heart valves and skin. Consent for removal for donation
is required for all organs or tissue. The Idaho Driver's license
contains a check box for organ donation. Next of kin may give
consent for donation. Consent must be made immediately because
time is important for retrieving tissue.
Will there be an Inquest?
Inquests are held on all
personas that have been involved with a Law Enforcement Officer at the
time of death. Otherwise, an Inquest is held at the Coroner's
discretion. Inquests may be held when the identity of the
deceased, the date, place or cause of death ahs not been established or
when it is not known by what means the death took place. The
Coroner may hold an Inquest when certain circumstances relating to the
death need to be brought to the attention of the public.
Who are the Coroners?
Each County in Idaho has a
Coroner who is elected. The Coroner is to investigate deaths which
may occur under certain circumstances as defined in the Idaho Code.
In order to determine in each case the manner and cause of death and, if
necessary, hold an Inquest and determine the facts as to how, when,
where and by what means the deceased came to his or her death.
Note:
This information is for general information only and must not be
interpreted as a legal description of a Coroner's duties.
Reference should be made to the Idaho Code for complete information.
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