The AFMES performs medical-legal examinations on service members and American citizens who die in a combat zone and certain individuals who are killed or die within the United States or abroad. The AFMES positively identifies decedents and issues death certificates that state the cause and manner of death.

The Armed Forces Medical Examiner, under federal law, has the authority to perform a medical-legal examination when a death occurs under federal jurisdiction. Cases typically involve a violent or unnatural death and/or may be suspicious in nature or possibly involve a threat to the health of the military community.

The examination helps determine the cause and manner of death as well as confirm the identity of your loved one by scientific means. These investigations can assist in identifying potential public health issues. Please be assured that this examination will be carried out with the utmost dignity and respect.

The AFMES legal authority comes from Title 10 United States Code, Section 1471 (Forensic Pathology Investigations).

A medical-legal examination entails reviewing the circumstances of the death, scientifically identifying the decedent, performing an autopsy and writing a report. The circumstances of the death are provided to the AFMES by the local commanders or investigative agencies such as the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command, U.S. Naval Criminal Investigative Service, U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Scientific identification is made by performing fingerprint, dental and/or DNA analyses. During the autopsy, photographs of the decedent are taken, physical characteristics are noted and any natural disease or trauma is documented. Selected fluids and small sections of organs are retained for microscopic, toxicological and/or DNA analyses. These body fluids and tissue samples are similar to those taken at a hospital laboratory for evaluation and are treated in the same manner. In rare instances, it is necessary to retain selected whole organs, such as the heart and/or brain, for expert consultation. If this is required, the person authorized to determine disposition (PADD) or next-of-kin (depending on the circumstance) is notified that these organs are being retained by the AFMES and disposition instructions are obtained.

Your casualty assistance officer (CAO), or casualty assistance calls officer (CACO), will obtain the date and location of the medical-legal examination and provide you this information.

All medical examiners working for the Office of the Armed Forces Medical Examiner are physicians who are either board-certified in the field of forensic pathology by the American Board of Pathology or work directly under the supervision of a board-certified forensic pathologist.

For cases arriving from overseas, the medical-legal examination usually takes 24 hours from the time the remains arrive at Dover AFB, DE. For cases within the United States, the medical examiner team usually deploys within 24 hours of notification and the examination is usually complete within 24 hours of the arrival of the team at the local facility. If identification is in question, it may take up to five days to complete DNA analysis, assuming a suitable reference is available.

The AFMES will retain custody of the decedent until they are positively identified and all required paperwork has been received from the PADD or next-of-kin. Once the AFMES has released the decedent, mortuary services are initiated by the Dover AFB Port Mortuary, the respective casualty/mortuary offices, or contract funeral home, depending on the situation.

In most cases a final report will be issued in approximately 6 to 8 weeks. A copy of the final report is available upon request.

The photographs taken at the time of the autopsy are not normally included with the report. These photographs will be provided with the report if specifically requested.

All information generated by the Armed Forces Medical Examiner in connection with the medical-legal examination is available upon request, unless release of said information would compromise a continuing legal investigation into the fatal incident. The autopsy report summarizes all pertinent findings and answers most questions. Additional documents such as toxicology and DNA reports are summarized in the final autopsy report. If you would like copies of these additional documents they will be provided, but we ask for the opportunity to review them with you, either in person or over the telephone.

Submit an Autopsy Request Form to the AFMES via Email, fax it to (302) 346-8767, or mail it to:

Armed Forces Medical Examiner System
Attn: Office of the Armed Forces Medical Examiner
115 Purple Heart Drive
Dover AFB DE 19902

We value the privacy of you and your loved ones, so we ask that your request for the report be in writing and accompanied by a copy of a government-issued photo ID (e.g.,driver’s license, family member identification card) so that we may comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996.

The staff of the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System is available to discuss its findings with you. If you would like to speak with a medical examiner, we may be reached at (302) 346-8648. You may be asked for some personal information so that we may verify your identity, and that of your loved one, in order to protect your privacy and comply with HIPAA regulations.