Requests to Amend Cause and Manner of Death Determinations by Medical Examiners in Maryland, 2015-2021

A 1989 state law in Maryland allows family members to contest cause and manner of death determinations of medical examiners. A previous article described the experience with this law involving 12 appeals over a 3-year period (2012-2015). We now update the experience with the law involving 10 appeals that occurred over a subsequent period (2015 to September 2021) and a resultant change in the law. This unique appellate scheme has proven to be a valuable tool for medical examiners and families and has to date prevented resort to judicial courts. It is a model statutory scheme that is recommended for other jurisdictions to consider.