What is the primary role of a coroner?

The primary role of a coroner is to investigate questionable deaths. This includes determining the cause and manner of death, especially in cases where the circumstances are unclear, suspicious, or unnatural. The coroner often works with law enforcement and medical professionals to gather evidence, conduct interviews, and, when necessary, order autopsies to ascertain how the individual died.

In contrast, while performing autopsies and diagnosing death are essential functions in some jurisdictions, they are not the sole responsibility of the coroner; these duties may also be undertaken by a medical examiner, who typically possesses a medical degree. Overseeing funeral services is not within the scope of a coroner's responsibilities, as that task is associated with funeral directors and related professionals. Providing medical care to the deceased is also not a responsibility of the coroner, as they are not involved in medical treatment prior to death. Their focus is on understanding how and why a death occurred to ensure proper legal procedures are followed.