Who determines the cause of death?

• A. Medical examiner alone
• B. Officer in conjunction with the medical examiner (ME)
• C. Coroner alone
• D. Detective in charge

Answer: (B)

The determination of the cause of death comes from the medical examiner, who uses autopsy findings, lab results, and medical evidence to identify what led to the death. But this conclusion is not made in isolation—the investigator on the scene provides crucial context, incident details, and evidence. When the medical examiner reviews all this information together with the medical data, the cause of death is established. So, the best description is a joint effort between the officer and the medical examiner, combining scene investigation with medical analysis to reach the determination.