In regards to having all 1st Class counties mandated to have physicians as medical examiners, the Globe’s editor was correct (Globe, Dec. 7) in stating that as senator representing Jasper County and at the request of the Jasper County Commission, I successfully exempted Jasper County from being mandated to hire a physician at that time.
However, on the other hand, the law does not prevent the county from establishing the office of medical examiner and hiring a physician. It was the unwritten agreement that the county would, in fact, attempt to move toward a medical examiner’s office with a physician.
It is my personal opinion that every county should have a medical examiner’s office headed by a forensic pathologist or have counties form cooperatives that provide the services.
Regional crime labs are essential. Timely results were also supported by me while I was senator.
I would urge the Jasper County Commission to provide the services of a formal medical examiners office without being forced by the state to do so.
Marvin Singleton, M.D.
Stockon, Calif.
