Coronavirus Deaths Increase Autopsies At Medical Examiners Office

CONCORD, NH — Data continues to flow from the state of New Hampshire on a daily basis including an increase in the number of deaths associated with the new coronavirus. Families have questioned what the process is for loved ones who died and had symptoms of COVID-19. According to New Hampshire Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Jennie Duval from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME), the department investigates sudden, unexpected, or unnatural deaths from all causes, including trauma, drug overdose and undiagnosed natural disease to determine the cause and manner of death.

Investigations may or may not include autopsy. In addition, every year the OCME investigates a number of deaths that occur outside of the hospital from various types of undiagnosed infections, typically in patients who do not seek medical care.

Deaths occurring in patients who test positive or are suspected to be COVID-19 positive, who were critically ill and hospitalized prior to their death, would not be investigated by the OCME unless there are external factors (e.g. trauma or drugs) that may have contributed to their death.

If a patient dies unexpectedly outside of the hospital and tested positive or was suspected to be COVID-19 positive, the death would be investigated by the OCME and an autopsy may be performed.

The OCME has collected specimens for COVID-19 testing on multiple decedents. All decedents were immediately released to the funeral home of the families choice following examination and specimen collection.

Funeral homes do not collect swabs for COVID-19 tests. However, if an autopsy is not necessary then specimens may be collected from deceased patients by the assistant deputy medical examiner’s at funeral homes in lieu of transporting the body to OCME for specimen collection.

The testing procedure is currently the same for living and deceased patients i.e. nasopharyngeal swabs are collected and submitted to the state's public health laboratories or other reference lab for testing. Additional specimens may be collected for testing if an autopsy is performed.

Test results have been reported to OCME within two to three days of specimen collection. Turnaround time will vary between laboratories.

Duval noted not all deaths will require an autopsy to determine the cause of death. The decision to perform an autopsy and scope of testing is determined on a case-by-case basis.

Autopsies are usually completed within 24 to 48 hours of death and the body can be released to a funeral home the same day. The pathologist calls the family immediately after the autopsy to provide preliminary autopsy findings. A pathologist may issue a death certificate with the cause of death pending test results. When test results are received, the pathologist again calls the family to provide test results and finalizes the death certificate.

Read about how the Coronavirus is affecting the funeral industry Funerals Affected By Cornoavirus.