This MARC record contains four articles.

Articles Contained in SIRS Enduring Issues 2002.

Originally Published: Grave Secrets: Oversights Raise Troubling Questions, Feb. 11, 2001; pp. n.p..

Originally Published: Grave Secrets: Suspicious Deaths Going Unreported, Fe. 11, 2001; pp. n.p..

Originally Published: Grave Secrets: Deaths of the Elderly Often Unquestioned, Feb. 12, 2001; pp. n.p..

Originally Published: Grave Secrets: Other States' Investigations Show How N.C. Could Improve, Feb. 14, 2001; pp. n.p..

OVERSIGHTS RAISE TROUBLING QUESTIONS -- "Thirty-five years ago [1966], North Carolina vowed to produce stronger death investigations by replacing county coroners with doctors statewide. No longer would elected laypeople with little training and no medical expertise investigate accidental, unexplained or violent deaths--only appointed medical examiners would. But the new system is fraught with troubles of its own. Criminal cases have been botched. Unnatural deaths unquestioned. Grieving families left with suspicions and no answers....Busy doctors seldom visit scenes of suspicious deaths, and some send bodies off for autopsy without ever looking at them or gathering thorough medical histories." (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER) This article relays that the state of North Carolina is riddled with death investigation oversights despite the fact that experts agree that the state "likely conducts better death investigations than some other states.".

GRAVE SECRETS: SUSPICIOUS DEATHS GOING UNREPORTED -- "Every year, hundreds of suspicious, accidental and violent deaths never reach North Carolina's medical examiners for investigation. The reason: Doctors don't report them. There are deaths from gunshot wounds, apparent falls and head trauma. Deaths from suspected drug overdoses and burns, choking and heat stroke...In every state, reporting oversights are often corrected through vital records offices, keepers of health and death data. But North Carolina's office is short-staffed and without a modern computer system." (CHARLOTTE OBERSERVER) This article relays that North Carolina has a larger number of unreported, suspicious deaths annually than other states with better, more up-to-date tracking equipment.

GRAVE SECRETS: DEATHS OF THE ELDERLY OFTEN UNQUESTIONED -- "For more than three decades, North Carolina has staffed its medical examiner system with busy doctors often untrained to probe unexplained, accidental or violent deaths. Scene investigations are rare in many counties, and some medical examiners order autopsies infrequently even though they are the only way to detect foul play. Those most commonly overlooked: the elderly." (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER) This article states that North Carolina medical examiners often neglect to question deaths among the elderly and finds that due to "widespread reports of elder abuse, forensic scientists nationwide are working to strengthen investigations as never before.".

GRAVE SECRETS: OTHER STATES' INVESTIGATIONS SHOW HOW N.C. COULD -- "While North Carolina clings to a troubled medical examiner system, other states have found better ways to investigate unexplained deaths. They spend more money on death investigations, but they also use strategies that cost taxpayers little." (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER) This article examines the lessons that North Carolina can learn from other states with better, more efficient medical systems.

Records created from non-MARC resource.