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Huron Commissioners Seeking Medical Examiner Options
Mary Drier/ Posted By Sydney Schefka
Fri, 12 Jul 2024 16:12:20 EDT
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It wasn't exactly a "vote of no confidence," but Huron County Commissioners did approve exploring options for new medical examiner services from other agencies.
During the July 9 county meeting, commissioners approved seeking proposals from entities that would be interested in providing medical examiner services for them. As part of that decision, commissioners set a deadline for a response of Aug. 7. At this time, the county uses Michigan Institute of Forensic Science and Medicine (MIFSM) of Saginaw.
During the meeting, audience member Funeral Director James Childs, who operates the Champagne Funeral Chapel in Pigeon, supported the commissioners' action. During a county meeting in June, it was reported the medical service the county uses is having issues. At that meeting, some commissioners expressed concerns about MIFSM and issues about it in the news.
Over the last few years there have been issues that landed in MIFSM in the news and in court over a variety of allegations. Currently, there are concerns of MIFSM not paying its debts and or staff, licensing, and pending lawsuits. Concerns arose previously about MIFSM's performance, which prompted some counties to withdraw from using the death investigation company's services.
In 2022, Saginaw County terminated its contract with MIFSM after it was discovered Dr. David Stockman had done autopsies of possible crime victims when he did not have the necessary credentials Saginaw County required to legally perform them. Tuscola County terminated their contract with MIFSM in 2020 because of disputes over the cost and long delay of issuing death and cremation certificates, and other issues.
