All Medical Examiner cases need to be treated as potential suspicious deaths and evidence preservation is important.  DO NOT remove any medical appliances used during resuscitation or hospitalization.  Any clothing removed should accompany the body to our office or be released to law enforcement as evidence if requested.  If evidence or tissue was removed during a procedure (bullets, placenta, craniotomy fragments) these should also accompany the body to our office or be released to law enforcement as evidence. 

In firearms deaths, suspicious deaths and known homicides, bagging of the hands with paper bags prior to transport to our office will preserve evidence and prevent contamination by blood.  Do not use plastic bags as they will result in condensation.