An evaluation of the use of medical examiner data for epidemiologic surveillance

Am J Public Health. 1987 Sep;77(9):1212-4. doi: 10.2105/ajph.77.9.1212.

Abstract

To assess the value of medical examiner (ME) data bases for use in epidemiologic surveillance, we compared data from non-injury deaths that became ME cases to all non-injury deaths occurring in 1984 among Fulton County, Georgia residents. The decedents in the ME series were younger and included a large proportion of Black males. Although not representative of all deaths in a community, ME data bases include demographic and medical information that is often difficult to collect in community studies and in other surveillance systems.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Black or African American
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Coroners and Medical Examiners*
  • Epidemiologic Methods*
  • Female
  • Georgia
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mortality
  • Population Surveillance
  • Records*