Friday, February 27, 2009
CANTON (AP) — In a cramped coroner’s examination room, workers sometimes have to wheel bodies out of the way to get to supply drawers.
And when the low-temperature morgue, which can hold up to five bodies, is at capacity, bodies are placed on carts around the exam table.
Stark County Coroner P.S. Murthy’s office is investigating a record number of deaths because of an increase in drug overdoses. And as the county’s population ages, he’s seeing more fatal falls among the elderly.
The number of cases at the coroner’s office reached 456 in 2008, a 47 percent increase over the last nine years.
The record was 415 in 2006. That was broken Dec. 4, when a woman, who later tested positive for cocaine, collapsed and died on a Massillon sidewalk.
Harry Campbell, the coroner’s chief investigator, said the staff has kept up with the growing caseload by cutting unnecessary steps in the death-certification process.
Using digital cameras, electronic reports, databases and voice recognition software also have increased efficiency.
David Corey, executive director of the Ohio State Coroners Association, said Thursday he does not know whether the total number of coroners cases statewide is on the rise. But other coroners report increases in deaths caused by drug overdoes and fatal falls.
Investigators are also encountering more cases in which the U.S. recession played a role.
Ken Betz, director of the Montgomery County coroner’s office in Dayton, said Thursday his office has seen several recent suicides that appeared to be related to the economy.
Betz said the victims left suicide notes about foreclosures and bankruptices.