COLDWATER, MI 9WTVB) – The Medical Examiner for Branch County told the Branch County Board of Commissioners during their Thursday work session that an increase in autopsies over the last couple of years has been caused mainly by drug overdoses and suicides.
Dr. Troy Davis responded to a recent inquiry by Commissioner Don Vrablic.
Davis said pathologists and coroners around the country are overwhelmed these days. It is so bad in some locations that many have waiting lists for autopsies.
Nationwide, the number of drug overdoses has skyrocketed. Davis said there used to be a yearly average of 10,000 overdoses. But that went up to 65,000 last year and there will be probably more this year and Branch County is not immune.
Davis said post mortem exams for Branch County are conducted in two and sometimes three places. Most of the autopsies are done in Lucas County, Ohio while criminal cases go to Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids.
Davis said a county pathologist may be something to look into in the future if the numbers continue to go up.
