Medical Examiners Office

Information for the Family

Why is a body brought to the Medical Examiner's Office?

The law says that the medical examiner must examine the body of anyone who has died in a way that is:

Violent
Sudden (when the person otherwise appears to have been healthy)
Suspicious, unusual, or unnatural

The medical examiner must try to figure out how and why the person has died. The medical examiner also must decide if an autopsy is needed.

What is an autopsy?

An autopsy is a step-by-step examination of the body of someone who has died. A doctor looks to see if the body is diseased or injured.

The doctor may also take samples of tissue or fluids for testing. This testing is done after the exam so that the family does not have to wait for the body to be released.

The exam usually takes several hours. Nothing is done that would keep the body from being viewed at a funeral.

What if the family does not want an autopsy?

If the family does not want an autopsy, the legal next of kin (closest relative) should tell the Medical Examiner's Office. the Medical Examiner's Office will take the request seriously. However, in many cases an autopsy is required by law and must be done despite what the family may want.

Is there a charge for the autopsy?

If there is an autopsy, can organs or tissues still be donated?

Yes. The Medical Examiner's Office will work with the organ bank to help make this happen.

Can the family get a copy of the autopsy report?

Under Tennessee law, autopsy reports are public. A copy of the report will be prepared upon written request. There may be a small charge if the person making the request is not the legal next of kin.

How does the family arrange to have the body released?

The legal next of kin (closest relative) must give the Medical Examiner's Office the name if the funeral home to which the body will be released. The Medical Examiner's Office will then tell the funeral home when the body is ready.

When will the Medical Examiner's Office release the body?

The body is almost always released within 24 hours. Sometimes, though, more time is needed for extra testing or to confirm a person's identity.

What about personal property?

Often the property that is on a person when he or she dies, comes to the Medical Examiner's Office with the body. When this happens, the personal property is listed and stored, and then released to the funeral director with the body. In some cases, the Medical Examiner's Office may need to hold personal property as evidence.

What if the family has no money to pay for the burial?

In Davidson County, the Metropolitan Government may be able to help. Call (615) 862-6458 for more information.

The family may also be able to donate the body for education or research. For more information, contact the Medical Examiner's Office.

Where can the family get copies of the death certificate?

If the person has died in Davidson County, copies of the death certificate can be ordered from:

Vital Records

Division of the Metro Health Department

311 23rd Avenue North

Nashville, TN 37203

(615) 340-5612

If the person has died in another county, the health department in that county must be contacted.

What are the hours in the Medical Examiner's Office?

The office is open to the public Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except on major holidays.

An investigator and Medical Examiner are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to accept reports of death and to release the body to the funeral director.

For more information contact

Office of the Medical Examiner

850 R.S. Gass Boulevard

Nashville, TN 37216-2640

Phone: (615) 743-1800

Fax: (615) 743-1890