Senator John Cornyn | Official U.S. House headshot
Senator John Cornyn | Official U.S. House headshot
April 18, 2024
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Chris Murphy (D-CT) along with U.S. Congressmen Michael Guest (MS-03) and Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05) have introduced the Strengthening the Medical Examiner and Coroner System Act. This bill aims to address the current shortage of medical examiners in the United States by increasing the number of board-certified forensic pathologists nationwide.
Sen. Cornyn emphasized the importance of the legislation, stating, “The current shortage of medical examiners puts public safety and public health at risk.” He highlighted the need to expand the forensic medical service providers to meet the needs of communities across the country.
Sen. Murphy echoed these sentiments, pointing out that the shortage of forensic pathologists poses a serious risk to the public health system. He emphasized the importance of attracting qualified medical graduates to forensic pathology to ensure enough board-certified forensic pathologists are available to meet national demand.
Congressman Guest expressed his pride in being part of the initiative, stating, “I am proud to join my colleagues in leading this important legislation that could help grow the medical examiner and forensic pathology workforce in Mississippi and across the country.”
Congressman Cleaver, emphasizing the critical role of medical examiners in public health and safety, stated, “Medical Examiners play a pivotal role in both public health and safety nationwide, but far too many communities are facing a dangerous shortfall of experienced examiners... To ensure local law enforcement and public health officials have the information they need in a timely manner, it is imperative that Congress strengthen the pipeline of quality pathologists.”
The shortage of forensic pathologists in the country has led to delays in autopsies and death certification, hindering families from gaining closure and impacting the fight against health crises. The bill aims to incentivize qualified medical graduates to enter the field of forensic pathology and provide support to accredited medical schools and providers in their recruitment efforts.
The Strengthening the Medical Examiner and Coroner System Act seeks to address the critical shortage of forensic pathologists by encouraging more individuals to enter the field, ultimately bolstering the public health system and improving the efficiency of death investigations.
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