Northampton County Coroner Zach Lysek advised Northampton County Council yesterday that he'd like another full-time Deputy Coroner. He's been pretty busy. Deaths in the county have increased from 1,460 in 2006 to a projected death count of 2,593 in 2017. And the way he was looking at me yesterday, I think he wanted to make it 2,594.
Unfortunately, there has been a sharp increase in drug overdose deaths. The number has tripled from 31 in 2014 to 91 this year. "It's unbelievable the number of cases we're getting," Lysek said.
To counter the opiate epidemic, Lysek and his deputies now seize all drugs that were prescribed to a decedent Over the past year, they've collected 407 pounds of drugs.
Lysek also broke down deaths that are suicides, accidental and homicide. Though homicides are thankfully rare, accidental deaths have sharply risen since 2014 as you can see in the graph below.
This corresponds roughly with the increase in drug overdose deaths.
Lysek's office conducts an average of 216 death investigations monthly, and the number of autopsies is on the rise. There have been 252 autopsies in 2017 so far, compared to just 95 in 2008.
Lysek has no morgue, nor is there one at St. Luke's hospital. He said he usually is looking for places to store seven or eight bodies at a time.
In his 25 years as a coroner, Lysek has buried only one body at taxpayer expense. He said that if he is unable to locate relatives, he has been successful in donating the bodies to science.
Finding next of kin has grown increasingly difficult for his staff, and Lysek indicated that relatives sometimes have to be embarrassed into assuming responsibility for a deceased relative. "We've become a throw away society," he said.
13 comments:
"Lysek and his deputies now seize all drugs that were prescribed to a decedent"
is this legal?
how do you confiscate property like that?
so if someone commits suicide with a gun the coroner gets to seize the gun and ammo?
or huffs gasoline and dies the coroner gets to seize the gascan?
I understand the motive of the coroner and think it is a good idea i am just wondering if it is legal.
He only seizes medications. He can do so because the medicine was prescribed to the deceased. No one else has a right to it. As for guns, bullets and cans of gas, thats for the police to seize and either destroy or turn back over to a claiming family member. Illegal narcotics are also seized by police and destroyed.
6.39
so the coroner has the right to search someone's house,office ,car for drugs?
usually one needs a warrant to do such things.
6.54
so the coroner is not subject to any laws when he decides to search your house?
the person who overdoses in his car at work gets the coroner turning his house upside down on the thought that the victim MIGHT have legally prescribed drugs in his house?
seems to me you would need a judge to sign off on that.
Under the law, the coroner has the duty to safely keep in his charge all personal effects and property on or about the person at the time of his death. He holds it for one year unless it is sooner claimed by a legal representatives of the deceased.
Medication prescribed to the deceased is for the deceased only and is not inherited.
I am sure he does not throw open cupboard or turn the house upside down looking for this medication. He asks if there medications. If a person says no, that is the end of it. If a person says yes but you may not have it, he probably walks away. He would not make a warrantless seizure or a seizure without the consent of the family.
http://www.pacoroners.org/Laws.php#1245
Well said. And to the poster claiming its all illegal and warrants are needed, I think you are missing the point of the coroners presentation to the county. He is already overworked and asking for help. He's got a problem that is not going to go away ever. People die. He's got more on his plate to deal with than making more work. If the guy wants to take your grandma's blood pressure pills, just let him.
Thanks for posting the data photos. I referenced your post in one of my classes today. Just yesterday I had a police officer as a guest speaker who had noted the sharp rise in the Valley the past three to four years. Then this morning I saw your post that gave the proof. Sadly, if you count those that police and/or EMS save with NARCAN, the number of otherwise deadly overdoses is even higher than the data Lysek provided.
Ovem, I am sure that Zach will be delighted to learn that his story made its way to your classroom. The opiate crisis is horrible and has spread to places you'd never suspect. Kevin Dolan, who heads up C&Y, has made similar observations. The late Danny McNeill really did a great job in helping to open our eyes.
Doing drugs is a choice exactly like joining the military, it's voluntary.
We will all die someday, those who die in the practice of there own choice, doing just what they want to do, should be celebrated.
In the words of our president, "He knew what he was getting into-".
I can only hope that everyone could die in a way of their own choosing.
Just because Trump is incredibly insensitive, that's no excuse for your own heartless remarks.
Honoring an individual's right to choose is easier for me than pretending I give a shit about what that choice is.
A person who is addicted has no choice, you moron. That is the nature of addiction.
I'm sorry Bernie, but if a person "addicted has no choice" doesn't that make recovering an impossibility?.
This addicted person, unlike the moron, must realize they in fact have, a choice, if recovery is to be a worthwhile possibility.
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