“Autopsy reports are boring.” Dr. Vernard Adams, Hillsborough County Medical Examiner, said it, not me. He said that unless it involves a celebrity death most days the press leaves him alone, and he likes it that way. And even in these cases, many times reporters just want an official expert opinion on the cause of death. However, Dr. Adams explained, “There’s a perception that when you open up a dead body, flags unfurl, trumpets blare and the answer is revealed, but most of the time that isn’t true.”
In addition to releasing records, Dr. Adams will also do press conferences or put out a press release in order to expediently inform the press about a high profile case. This saves him and the reporters precious time.
This is not to say that as a public servant Dr. Adams dislikes the press or does not want to hand over records to them. Quite the opposite, in fact, he said he loves the Sunshine laws in Florida as opposed to in New England where he used to live. Here he can just look up whatever the press wants, give it to them, and they will go away.
Now, as a gatekeeper of the dead…and their records, Dr. Adams has to make sure all the public records he releases are supposed to be public. For this reason, there are two different types of death certificates at the Medical Examiner’s office. One is open to all the public, but comes without the cause of death (unless it’s been on file for more than 50 years, then it is all public). The other, made for the next of kin, includes medical information including cause of death. Ironically enough, however, if you want to know the cause of death you can just call up the Medical Examiner yourself and get his analysis. I’m not sure how much Dr. Adams likes this policy since that means he would actually have to speak to a living reporter.
There are other records available besides death certificates and autopsy records. The office also houses toxicology reports, hospital records, dental records, police reports, and government phone conversations. Essentially, anything pertaining to a particular death case will be on file.
If a reporter were to do a case involving a dead body, Dr. Adam’s office is the place to go. They have highly organized files that have everything pertaining to a particular case in one file. All the cases are color coded by type of case, for example, traffic accidents are in black and unknown causes are orange. This office would be the place to find out how many homicides or suicides have occurred in the last 5 years in a particular area. You could find out how many traffic accidents happen at a certain intersection. All these concepts are at your fingertips with the help of the Medical Examiner’s excellent staff.
I appreciate Dr. Adams dry sense of humor when it comes to the dead and the living. Even though he may not be thrilled to see you on his office steps, he will gladly deliver whatever public record you request that falls under the Florida Sunshine Laws.
In addition to releasing records, Dr. Adams will also do press conferences or put out a press release in order to expediently inform the press about a high profile case. This saves him and the reporters precious time.
This is not to say that as a public servant Dr. Adams dislikes the press or does not want to hand over records to them. Quite the opposite, in fact, he said he loves the Sunshine laws in Florida as opposed to in New England where he used to live. Here he can just look up whatever the press wants, give it to them, and they will go away.
Now, as a gatekeeper of the dead…and their records, Dr. Adams has to make sure all the public records he releases are supposed to be public. For this reason, there are two different types of death certificates at the Medical Examiner’s office. One is open to all the public, but comes without the cause of death (unless it’s been on file for more than 50 years, then it is all public). The other, made for the next of kin, includes medical information including cause of death. Ironically enough, however, if you want to know the cause of death you can just call up the Medical Examiner yourself and get his analysis. I’m not sure how much Dr. Adams likes this policy since that means he would actually have to speak to a living reporter.
There are other records available besides death certificates and autopsy records. The office also houses toxicology reports, hospital records, dental records, police reports, and government phone conversations. Essentially, anything pertaining to a particular death case will be on file.
If a reporter were to do a case involving a dead body, Dr. Adam’s office is the place to go. They have highly organized files that have everything pertaining to a particular case in one file. All the cases are color coded by type of case, for example, traffic accidents are in black and unknown causes are orange. This office would be the place to find out how many homicides or suicides have occurred in the last 5 years in a particular area. You could find out how many traffic accidents happen at a certain intersection. All these concepts are at your fingertips with the help of the Medical Examiner’s excellent staff.
I appreciate Dr. Adams dry sense of humor when it comes to the dead and the living. Even though he may not be thrilled to see you on his office steps, he will gladly deliver whatever public record you request that falls under the Florida Sunshine Laws.
Just hurry up and leave so he can get back to his “clients”.
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