Crisis In The State's Medical Examiner Office

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Officials with the state medical examiner's office say underfunding and pending retirements threaten the agency's accreditation and future court cases. Chief investigator

Thursday, June 21st 2007, 7:56 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Officials with the state medical examiner's office say underfunding and pending retirements threaten the agency's accreditation and future court cases. Chief investigator Kevin Rowland says the consequences will include fewer autopsies and delays in completing death investigations. And he says bodies could wind up being stored in refrigerated trucks outside the medical examiner's office.

Rowland says more money is needed to hire additional pathologists.

Members of the medical examiner's office have met with Governor Brad Henry's staff and are meeting with officials from the state Legislature.

Rowland says a supplemental appropriation is needed this year as well as a commitment from legislators to provide sufficient funding in the future.