Who or What is a Coroner?

August 21, 2007: Today Ms. Rae Wooten, the Charleston County Coroner, spoke to us and shared an insightful view of the Coroner’s responsibilities; which is the “voice for those who are deceased.” Ms. Wooten was appointed in August 2006 to fill the vacancy of Susan Chewning.

Her enlightening program allowed us to get a realistic perspective of how the Coroner’s office operates in the “real” world. The Coroner in South Carolina is an elected official who investigates certain deaths to determine cause and manner of death and, most importantly, represents the decedent and family.

The Coroner provides direct service to the citizens of Charleston County and those who die here. They are charged with investigating violent, traumatic, suspicious, unexplained or unexpected death, as well as, those that occur outside of a hospital, nursing home, and without a doctor’s care.

The Coroner is charged with determining the cause of death; whether it was a disease or injury. She and her staff also ascertain the manner of death, including the circumstances in which it occurred, to determine whether it was an accident, by their own hands, by another’s hands, or if it is undetermined.

Two other key responsibilities of the Coroner’s office is the identification of the deceased and the notification of the next of kin. Because of our beaches and a large number of people vacationing here, there are unique challenges of identification in many cases. According to Ms. Wooten, notification by a Coroner changes life forever for those individuals she goes to see. She feels strongly that this can be one of the greatest services she performs in that very difficult time.

Whether planning for future events or determining what occurred, the Coroner and her staff provide a great service, which many times goes unrecognized.

According to the law, the Coroner must also release a body for cremation. They are the final authority in this endeavor and work closely with area funeral homes.

In addition to service of the deceased, the Coroner has a significant responsibility in disaster planning. Her office takes a pro-active approach in determining what might happen in a disaster and works diligently in developing plans for her organization to respond in the best way.

Submitted by Wayne Outlaw, Keyway Committee