Ventura County Medical Examiner Ousted In Probe of Unauthorized Procedures

At least two people from the Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office are under investigation, and its Medical Examiner placed on administrative leave.

Authorities are investigating reports of unauthorized postmortem procedures conducted by members of the Medical Examiner’s Office. Investigators from the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office and agents from the California Medical Board, executed a search warrant on June 22.

County Medical Examiner Jon J. Smith was placed on administrative leave the following day along with a Medical Examiner Investigation Specialist.

The District Attorney’s Office says that “significant documentary evidence was seized pursuant to the warrant.”

As a result of the District Attorney’s actions, a separate internal personnel investigation was initiated by the Medical Examiner’s Office.

“We have taken these immediate measures to review the situation and ensure the
services provided by the Medical Examiner to the public and family members of loved ones meet and exceed the highest level of medical examiner best practices,” said Health Care Agency Director Barry Fisher.

The agency’s Contract Medical Examiner will be taking over Medical Examiner duties, and an administrative physician was assigned to oversee the office so that there are no disruptions in business operations.

The investigation is expected to take several months to complete.

Those who are concerned about post mortem procedures can call the Ventura County Attorney’s Office at (805) 477-1651.

Dr. Smith also did contract work with the Santa Barbara County’s Medical Examiner’s office, which falls under the purview of the County Sheriff. The department released this statement:

“The Santa Barbara County Office of the Sheriff-Coroner is aware of the recent events and investigation involving the Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office.

The medical practitioner in charge of that office is also under contract by Santa Barbara County as one of two forensic pathologists who conduct autopsies in Santa Barbara County.

We are conducting our own independent inquiry into the situation and we will take steps to insure that all autopsies and other forensic pathology functions needed by our Coroner’s Office are conducted in an appropriate and professional manner.

We have been informed by the Medical Board of California that there has been no action taken to date by that agency and that the forensic pathologist involved is fully licensed and authorized to practice and carry out the duties of a pathologist.

As we continue our inquiry, we will work with the other agencies involved to insure the Santa Barbara Coroner’s Office serves the public with the highest standards of service.

It should be noted that autopsies and forensic pathology services are handled differently in Santa Barbara County than in Ventura County. In Santa Barbara County, the duties of the Coroner under California law are the responsibility of an elected official who holds the offices of both Coroner and Sheriff, Sheriff-Coroner Bill Brown. In addition to his primary duties of law enforcement, Sheriff Brown carries out the Coroner’s official duties of determining cause of death with the assistance of medical doctors specializing in forensic pathology.

The County currently contracts with these two pathologists for their services. However, in Ventura County the traditional office of Coroner has been replaced by an appointed Medical Examiner who, by law, must be a licensed medical practitioner, practicing in the specialty of forensic pathology. Thus, the impact of the current investigation is different between the two counties and autopsy and pathology functions in Santa Barbara County will probably not be significantly affected.

Due to the ongoing nature of this inquiry, we will be making no further statements until the inquiry is complete.”