KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The request by Michael Jackson’s family for a second autopsy is not uncommon. More and more Americans, including families in the Kansas City metro, are paying big bucks out of their own pockets for other experts to conduct private autopsies on their loved ones.
But new information from an exclusive investigation by the Scripps Howard News Service reveals many county coroners or doctors who determine the cause of death to be placed on the death certificate are not always accurate.
Mistakes Happen
A six month investigation by our partners at Scripps Howard News Service shows the official cause of death written on death certificates by coroners or doctors is often wrong.
Reporters analyzed 4.9 million recorded deaths in 2005 and 2006 provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They found the number of autopsies being done today is at a record low, only 9 percent.
But that low number also points to a disturbing trend, that the official ruling on the death certificate is not always accurate.
Reporters were able to determine that a coroner or doctor who makes little effort to determine why someone dies will often rule the cause of death as coronary disease.
Take for example, Seward County, Kan. Numbers provided by the CDC shows Seward County has one of the highest autopsy rates in the nation - 18 percent. Only 22 percent of those deaths are ruled as heart disease.
But in Oregon County, Mo., which recorded a similar number of deaths during the two year period, the conclusions were much different.
Autopsies are rare in Oregon County. In fact, none were recorded in 2005 and 2006. However, officials listed the number of deaths due to coronary disease as 31 percent. Again, a number that is much higher than the average.
Private Autopsies on the Rise
“Everyone wants an answer these days,” said Cameron Schenk, owner of Midwest Autopsy & Medical Services.
Schenk opened the business three years ago. He said he has slowly seen demand grow for his business of private autopsies.
“They want to know why their next of kin died at age 50. Insurance wants to know if they died of cancer,” Schenk said.
They come to Schenk looking for answers. Melissa Hymers is someone who did just that. At just 34 years old, her ex-husband Eric was found dead in a local motel in 2008.
As his former wife and mother of their two children, Hymers was shocked to learn the Jackson County Medical Examiners office listed the cause of death on the death certificate as a suicide.
The decision was made without an autopsy.
“I didn’t believe it was suicide. He was making plans for the future,” said Hymers.
Hymers paid to have his body autopsied by Midwest Autopsy.
The conclusion was much different. The private autopsy revealed the manner of death was accidental, not suicide.
Continue to the Next Page to See Why Some Opt to Get a Private Autopsy
