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associations. Like the CFDI, the certifications not only demonstrate an advanced level of knowledge, skill,

and experience – they also, and most importantly, have specific application to the criminal defense
investigation and elevate the CFDI value to the defense team. Our agency is glad to discuss these

certifications, and direct you to the resources.

THE PROCESS OF DEATH AND SERIOUS BODILY INJURY INVESTIGATIONS

This first section is primarily a refresher of the requisite course series, noting the more important factors.
We encourage you to refer to previous materials to be fully prepared.

Death may be first determined by a skilled and licensed medical practitioner, such as a registered nurse or

paramedic. A pronouncement by telephone is insufficient and must be done in person. Paramedics may
medically determine death, but cannot pronounce death – the legal determination of death after

consultation with their supervising medical doctor. Pronouncement is only by a medical doctor, doctor of
osteopathy or a deputized coroner or medical examiner.

Francois Marie Arouet (pen name Voltaire) said ‘To the living we owe respect, but to the dead we owe only

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the truth’. This is the definitive task of the coroner / medical examiner investigator and forensic
pathologist – and if retained, for the CFDI. The course of the official death / SBI investigation has multiple

phases including: scene investigation, body assessment, medical records, and the forensic autopsy. This is
finalized in three documents: the death certificate, the CFDIs report, and the autopsy report. ‘Autopsy’ is

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from the Greek ‘autopsia’, meaning ‘to see with one’s own eyes’. This CFDI course will focus on applying
this to the criminal defense process, to rephrase Voltaire, ‘To the evidence we owe respect, but to the

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defendant we owe only the truth’ . Through the process of dissecting the official death / SBI investigation
in order to allow the CFDI to view death and even non-death cases “with one’s own eyes” as an integral
part of the criminal defense team.

I. UNDERSTANDING MEDICOLEGAL CONCLUSIONS IN DEATH OR SERIOUS BODILY INJURY

As Expert Medicolegal Investigators, we investigate, review, and consult in death and serious bodily injury
(SBI) cases more than any other services we provide. We do so for civil, criminal, and probate litigation, as

well in cases of questioned insurance benefits – most commonly accident vs. suicide, and also the actions

1 www.memorablequotations.com/voltaire.htm
2 West’s Encyclopedia of American Law
3 Dean A. Beers, CLI, CCDI and Karen S. Beers, BSW, CCDI adapted from Francois Marie Arouet (pen name Voltaire)
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