What is the difference between a mortician and a medical examiner

Washoe County converted its Coroner system to a Medical Examiner system in , by county ordinance. Nevada Revised Statutes require that each county have a Coroner, but leave the details of the death investigation system to the counties to determine. Washoe County, NV Menu. All Departments. What are Your Hours of Operation?

A medical examiner and funeral director are not the same thing, because a medical examiner is a forensic pathologist. However, a person who is a funeral director can also be a coroner if he or she is elected to be the county or state coroner. This is a situation where the two job titles could intersect, but it is essentially the only situation where the two could be referred to as the same thing, and only because the person has assumed both roles. In all other instances, a coroner, medical examiner, and funeral director are different job titles with different levels of education and job tasks.

Facebook Twitter. Medical Examiner A medical examiner is someone who certifies and investigates the cause of a death. Coroner A coroner is also someone who certifies and investigates the cause of a death. Funeral Director A funeral director is a person who works for, or owns, a funeral home. Mortician A mortician is the person who specifically cares for the deceased body.

Undertaker An undertaker is an older European term that has mostly gone out of use. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website.

If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. On a related note, there are about 10, funerals homes or mortuaries in the country. A person interested in a career as a mortician or funeral director in the United States typically obtains a degree in mortuary sciences.

As is the case with coroners or medical examiners, the laws of each state dictate what type of educational background a person must have to become a duly licensed mortician. Some community or junior colleges in the United States offer two-year mortuary science degree programs. In the alternative, some colleges and universities offer two- or four-year mortuary science degree programs. Typical mortuary science curriculum includes courses in physiology, pathology, anatomy, embalming, restorative arts, and business administration and management.

In most states, following obtaining a degree in mortuary science, a person spends a year undertaking an apprenticeship at a funeral home. In many counties, coroners are elected officials. However, some rural counties elect a local farmer or appoint the sheriff, for instance. Embalmers and coroners work regular business hours, as well as being on call after hours and on weekends.

In cases where cause of death is uncertain, the coroner may need to consult with law enforcement on evidence collection and send samples to expert pathologists, toxicologists or medical examiners.

Many embalmers have full-time jobs in mortuaries, but they may be expected to report to work during the middle of the night or earlier than usual the next day to start the preservation process as soon as possible for quick transport or viewing. The coroner and embalmer salary is higher than average because the work can be emotionally fatiguing.

They see people of all ages and bodies in terrible condition brought to the morgue. They may also interact with distraught family members in the role of mortician in charge of funeral arrangements.