By BRIAN WITTE
Maryland’s chief medical examiner, Victor Weedn, resigned on February 18 amid a backlog of autopsies and the departures of staff members. Earlier in the month, Weedn made a formal request to the federal government for help managing a backlog of more than 200 bodies awaiting autopsies.
The number of cases investigated grew 85% between 2012 and 2020. Once, the office could turn around 99% of cases in less than 24 hours, but today, it can take two weeks. The backlog began in mid-December, but by Jan. 13, an initial 50 bodies waiting for autopsy doubled. Additionally, the office has lost at least four forensic pathologists and the chief of investigations. The lack of staff threatens the agency’s accreditation because staffing has fallen below national standards.
In the wake of the resignation, the Maryland Post Mortem Examiners Commission announced that Pamela Southall will serve as the interim chief.
“The Post Mortem Examiners Commission welcomes Dr. Southall and looks forward to her leadership at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) during a critical time,” the commission said in a news release. “In her new role, Dr. Southall will lead the office’s efforts to review caseloads and work begun by the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) to recruit forensic pathologists and secure additional resources for the office while maintaining efficient operations."
In recent weeks, the health department has coordinated with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide assistance from additional pathology professionals.