Which agency typically has the authority to order an autopsy?

The Medical Examiner's Office typically has the authority to order an autopsy because this agency is specifically tasked with investigating deaths that are sudden, unexplained, or due to suspicious circumstances. Medical Examiners are usually licensed physicians with specialized training in forensic pathology. Their role includes determining the cause and manner of death through autopsy when necessary, especially in instances where foul play may be suspected, or the death is deemed to have occurred in unusual circumstances.

In contrast, while a Coroner's Office also plays a role in death investigations and may indeed order autopsies, especially in jurisdictions where the Coroner has medical training, it predominantly handles cases based on local laws regarding sudden or unexplained deaths. A Health Department generally focuses on public health issues and is not concerned with individual death investigations, while local government lacks the specific forensic expertise required for death investigations. Thus, the Medical Examiner's Office is the primary authority for autopsy orders in most jurisdictions.