The Oklahoma Chief Medical Examiner is the Oklahoma

Oklahoma

Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...

 state official responsible for investigating sudden, unexpected, violent or suspicious deaths and determining the cause of death. The Chief Medical Examiner provides toxicological and pathological services to aid in the investigation of any death subject to public inquiry. The Chief Medical Examiner heads the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME), which is a state agency.

The current Interim Chief Medical Examiner is Dr. Andrew Sibley, who was appointed by the Board on June 5, 2010, amid a growing controversry and political corruption

Political corruption

Political corruption is the use of legislated powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain. Misuse of government power for other purposes, such as repression of political opponents and general police brutality, is not considered political corruption. Neither are illegal acts by...

 investigation.

Overview

The Chief Medical Examiner was created by the Oklahoma Legislature

Oklahoma Legislature

The Legislature of the State of Oklahoma is the biennial meeting of the legislative branch of the government of Oklahoma. It is bicameral, comprising the Oklahoma House of Representatives and the Oklahoma Senate, with all members elected directly by the people. The House of Representatives has 101...

 in 1961 but did not receive funding until 1967. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is governed by the Board of Medicolegal Investigations. The Chief Medical Examiner must be a licensed physician

Physician

A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...

, trained and certified in forensic pathology

Forensic pathology

Forensic pathology is a branch of pathology concerned with determining the cause of death by examination of a corpse. The autopsy is performed by the pathologist at the request of a coroner or medical examiner usually during the investigation of criminal law cases and civil law cases in some...

.

Leadership

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is under the supervision of the Secretary of Safety and Security

Oklahoma State Cabinet

The Cabinet of the Governor of Oklahoma is a body of the most senior appointed officials of the executive branch of the government of Oklahoma. Originally an informal meeting between the Governor of Oklahoma and various government officials, the Governor's Cabinet has evolved into a major part of...

. Under Governor of Oklahoma

Governor of Oklahoma

The governor of the state of Oklahoma is the head of state for the state of Oklahoma, United States. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, the governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Oklahoma executive branch, of the government of Oklahoma...

 Brad Henry

Brad Henry

Charles Bradford "Brad" Henry was the 26th Governor of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. A member of the Democratic Party, he was elected governor in 2002...

, Kevin Ward is currently serving as the Secretary.

Board of Medicolegal Investigations

The Board of Medicolegal Investigations is the governing is policy-making body for the Chief Medical Examiner. With the exception of one member, all members of the Board are ex officio members or that members designee. The Board elects one of its members to serve as chair and one of its members as vice-chair. Members of the Board receive no compensation for their services on this Board.

• The Director of the State Bureau of Investigation
  Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation
  The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation is an independent state law enforcement agency of the government of Oklahoma. The OSBI assists the city police departments of the state and is the primary investigative agency of the state government...
  
  
• The State Commissioner of Health
  Oklahoma State Department of Health
  The Oklahoma State Department of Health is a department of the government of Oklahoma under the supervision of the Oklahoma Secretary of Health. The Department is responsible for protecting the health of all Oklahomans and providing other essential human services...
  
  
• The Dean of the College of Medicine of the University of Oklahoma
  University of Oklahoma
  The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
  
  
• The President or Dean of the Oklahoma State University - Center for Health Sciences
  Oklahoma State University - Center for Health Sciences
  The Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences is located in Tulsa, Oklahoma and is part of the Oklahoma State University System. The Center founded by the Oklahoma State Legislature in 1972 and merged with OSU in 1988....
  
  
• The President of the Oklahoma Bar Association - J. William Conger (Bill Conger)
• The President of the Oklahoma Osteopathic Association
• The President of the Oklahoma State Medical Association
• A funeral director appointed by the Oklahoma State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors

The current Board members are:

• Ted W. Violett, M.D. (Chairman)
• Tom Jordan
• Nancy Hall, Ph.D.
• Jim Cooper, Vice-Chairman
• Michael Crutcher, M.D.
• John Fernandes, D.O.
• Shanda McKenney

Administration

The Board appoints the Chief Medical Examiner, who serves at the Board's pleasure. The Chief Medical Examiner is the chief executive of OCME and is responsible for the overall performance of its duties. The Chief Medical Examiner also serves be an ex officio nonvoting member of the Board.

Controversy

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is central part of the 2010 Oklahoma political corruption investigation

2010 Oklahoma political corruption investigation

The 2010 Oklahoma political corruption investigation is an ongoing criminal investigation that focuses on whether Oklahoma State Representative Randy Terrill , State Representative Mike Christian , and State Senator Debbe Leftwich engaged in political corruption involving the Office of the...

.

Organization

• Board of Medicolegal Investigations
  • Chief Medical Examiner
    • Deputy Chief Medical Examiner
      • Administration Division
      • Central Investigation Division
      • Eastern Investigation Division
      • District Offices

Powers and Duties

Oklahoma law requires that all human deaths of the types listed below must be reported to the Chief Medical Examiner and investigated by him.

• Violent deaths, whether apparently homicidal, suicidal or accidental including but not limited to deaths due to thermal, chemical, electrical or radiational injury and deaths due to criminal abortions, whether self-induced or not.
• Deaths under suspicious, unusual or unnatural means.
• Deaths related to disease which might constitute a threat to public health.
• Deaths unattended by a licensed medical or osteopathic physician for fatal or potentially fatal illness.
• Deaths of persons after unexplained coma.
• Deaths that are medically unexpected and that occur during a therapeutic procedure.
• Deaths of any inmate occurring in any place of penal incarceration.
• Deaths of persons whose bodies are to be cremated, buried at sea, transported out of state or otherwise made ultimately unavailable for pathological study.