Date:​​ September 18, 2018

To: ​Dr. Steffen Guenzel

From: ​Skyler Prozor

Subject: ​Research Proposal- The Impact of Medical Examiner Mistakes on the Families
of Victims

Topic Description: ​The broad research territory I have chosen to study is the
drawbacks of the Medical examiner system in America. Many individuals both in and
outside of the field of forensics are affected by delayed medical examinations, long
response times and crucial mistakes of today's medical examiners. After doing some
research, I found that there is a severe shortage of medical examiners of whom are
well-trained and effectively incorporate standard procedural techniques and technology
when doing examinations. The argument I have chosen to focus on for my research is
the effects of the lack of proper medical examination practices on the families of
deceased victims.

Documentation Style:​​ APA

Tentative List of References:

Hanzlick, R., MD. (n.d.). An Overview of Medical Examiner/Coroner Systems in the

United States. Retrieved September 18, 2018, from
http://sites.nationalacademies.org/cs/groups/pgasite/documents/webpage/pga_049924
(Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.​. pdf (Links to an external site.)Links
to an external site.

Pearsall, B. March 3, 2011. Improving Forensic Death Investigation. Retrieved

September 18, 2018, from ​https://www.nij.gov/journals/267/pages/investigation.aspx
(Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.

Clasen-Kelly, F. November 17, 2013. In NC medical examiner system, heavy autopsy

caseloads raise risk of mistakes. Retrieved September 18, 2018, from
https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/special-reports/nc-medical- (Links to an
external site.)Links to an external site.​ examiners/article9092573.html

Humphrey, S. November 2, 2011. New Okla. law allows families to challenge medical
examiner. Retrieved September 24, 2018 from
https://www.kxii.com/home/headlines/New_Oklahoma_law_allows_families_to_challeng
(Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
e_medical_examiner_133118778.html

Sterling, S and Sullivan, P, S. December 14, 2017. Death & Dysfunction. Retrieved
September 24, 2018 from ​http://death.nj.com/10/ (Links to an external site.)Links to an
external site.

*Personal Interview with College of Sciences Professor Candice Bridges

Purpose: ​I am currently pursuing my major in forensic science and in the future, I plan
to establish a career as a medical examiner. The research topic I plan to study will help
me greatly in the future as it has the potential to indirectly lead to advances and
improvements in the forensic science field and medical examiner practices.

Intended Audience: ​The intended audience of this paper is established professionals

in the field of forensics, as well as students like myself who are majoring in forensic
science and are planning to pursue a future in forensics. By posing questions that
address issues with the medical examiner system, I hope to be able to encourage those
in the field to improve the methodology of medical examinations and encourage the
implication of practices that decrease build up of cases and mistakes due to faulty
practice.

Preliminary thesis/Argument: ​My exposure to the underlying issues with the medical
examiner system has prompted me to study how poor forensic practices lead to heavy
caseloads for medical examiners and ultimately the detrimental effects on the families of
victims.

Types of Research Areas: ​I plan to conduct research that includes information from
two areas of inquiry: scholarly and the internet. The area of forensic science accepts
scientifically backed evidence and research studies that are able to be replicated. I have
chosen to focus on the internet because it allows access to research as far as decades
in the past to present data that is being researched today, the internet it will offer a
more current scope on the medical examiner system. I have chosen as well to include
book sources and interviews in order to get more first hand information on the field and
different perspectives on the topic.

Graphs/Charts: (Attached)

http://death.nj.com/10/ (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.