Vermont Office of the Chief Medical Examiner - Burlington, VT

Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME)

Mission and Responsibilities

Key Services

• Medicolegal Autopsies: Examinations performed to determine the cause of death in cases under the office's jurisdiction.
• Cremation Permits: Reviewing and authorizing permits for cremation to ensuring no further investigation is needed before final disposition.
• Death Certification: Completing and signing death certificates for cases investigated by the office.
• Public Health Surveillance: Analyzing data from death investigations to identify trends in public health issues, such as the opioid crisis or suicide rates.

Information for Families

• Identification: Family members are typically not required to come to the office for identification; this is usually handled at the place of death or via other means.
• Reports: Final autopsy reports are confidential and released only to the legal next-of-kin or personal representative upon written request. Reports can take several weeks to complete.
• Location: The office and morgue are located on the campus of the University of Vermont Medical Center (Baird Building, Level 1), near the Emergency Department.