2010 Statistics

2010 Annual Statistics

The total number of deaths reported to the Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office in 2010 was 1,734. This represents 30% of the estimated 5,828 deaths that occurred in Pierce County in 2010. Each reported case received basic investigative review including review by a forensic pathologist. Jurisdiction was declined in 791 cases. Jurisdiction was assumed in the remaining 943 cases and further investigation was conducted. Postmortem examinations by forensic pathologists (autopsies and external examinations, including non-human remains) were conducted in 624 cases. The pathologist were able to certify the remaining cases following investigation and medical history review. The determination of manner of death is made by the Medical Examiner for death certification purposes based on the preponderance of available evidence.

2010 Statistical Table

Manner of Death	Total	Autopsy	External Exam	Medical History	Private Signer	Military Case	Male	Female
Accident Drug	99	92	3	3	0	1	59	40
Accident Fall	107	13	5	89	0	0	52	55
Accident General	39	23	11	5	0	0	27	12
Accident Industrial	1	1	0	0	0	0	1	0
Accident Traffic	59	32	17	10	0	0	46	13
Homicide	33	33	0	0	0	0	22	11
Jurisdiction Declined	791	0	0	0	791	0	445	345
Natural	409	182	32	81	113	1	268	138
Non-Human Remains	36	0	36	0	0	0	0	0
Suicide	127	97	23	3	0	4	95	32
Undetermined	27	16	2	9	0	0	10	11
Undetermined Infant	6	6	0	0	0	0	5	1
TOTALS	1,734	495	129	200	904	6	1,030	658

2010 Statistical Information

	Other Statistical Information
622	Bodies transported to the office
0	Bodies unidentified after examination
539	Cases where toxicology was performed
0	Exhumations
3	Presumed death
0	Partial autopsies
0	Hospital autopsies performed under Medical Examiner jurisdiction
8	Correctional facility related death
7	Law enforcement related death
50	Organ and tissue harvesting for donation
500	Scene visits by Medical Examiner or Medical Investigator
72	Unclaimed bodies
54	Unclaimed and indigent cases