If someone dies in a violent or unusually unpleasant way, the official who gets called is the coroner. The coroner system was imported from Britain where it was originally a method for the monarch to be informed of deaths so he or she could extract one last round of taxes. In fact, the word derives from crown (Latin corona), is related to coronation and is mentioned in the Magna Carta. Money matters, even in death. Especially in death. America has a patchwork of regulations around coroners and there’s the rub.
© 2024 John Oliver
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