Role+of+the+Medical+Examiner+in+Zika+Virus+and+Other+Emerging+Infections

Singh, Veena D. and Sarah L. Lathrop. "Role of the Medical Examiner in Zika Virus and Other Emerging Infections." Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, vol. 141, no. 1, Jan. 2017, pp. 82-84. EBSCOhost, doi:10.5858/arpa.2016-0327-SA.

Most people think that only homicides and suicides are investigated by medical examiners. However, infections such as the Zika virus are also inspected. Zika’s symptoms usually include a headache, rash, or abdominal pains, and are normally resolved in a week. Medical examiners’ review infections in the body because autopsy findings determine details about what happens when a person is infected with a disease. Although not thought of as much as doctors, medical examiners should be considered when discussing healthcare because they protect the public from hazardous infections.

Since my topic is about death and medical practices, I think this is relevant. Medical examiners would not have a job if life was immortal because their jobs revolve around death. Examiners inspect deceased people to figure out their cause of death. It is uncommon to think of medical examiners performing autopsies on people disease related deaths. That is a reason why I chose this article for my research question. It gives insight on a topic that most people do not know or think about.