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Peter Cummings of Bangor is a forensic pathologist. He is one of two living forensic pathologists who have examined the original autopsy materials of President John F. Kennedy, and he contributed to the identification of victims from the 9/11 attacks at the World Trade Center.
Maine’s Office of Chief Medical Examiner is on the brink of collapse, facing a crisis that threatens our justice system and public health. Recent reports from the Bangor Daily News have exposed morgues overflowing with unclaimed bodies, a system buckling under the weight of opioid deaths, economic despair, and an aging population. Yet, in a shocking display of misplaced priorities, Maine legislators have rejected the OCME’s plea for critical funding while approving a 61 percent pay raise for themselves.
The numbers are disturbing. Since 2014, suspicious deaths reported to the medical examiner’s office have surged by 55 percent, while full investigations have nearly doubled, increasing the total workload by 99.4 percent. The opioid epidemic has created a bottleneck in toxicology, with nearly 3,000 tests processed annually. Yet, staffing levels remain stagnant, leaving investigators overworked and the office stretched thin.
The office’s request for $1.9 million over two years would have provided essential resources: a new full-body X-ray machine, increased toxicology funding, fair compensation for field examiners, and five new staff members to help handle the increasing caseload. These are not luxuries — they are necessary for an office responsible for investigating every suspicious, violent, or unexplained death in Maine.
Without immediate action, the OCME risks losing national accreditation from the National Association of Medical Examiners. This is not a bureaucratic issue — it’s a catastrophe for our justice system. An unaccredited office loses credibility in court, making autopsy reports vulnerable to legal challenges and jeopardizing criminal cases, particularly homicides.
Losing NAME accreditation also undermines public trust. Families depend on the medical examiner’s office for unbiased, accurate answers about the deaths of their loved ones. If accreditation is lost, that trust is shattered, leaving families with more questions than answers.
The office plays a critical role in tracking the opioid epidemic. Its toxicology data is vital to public health initiatives and policy responses. By denying funding, legislators are not only compromising criminal investigations but also hampering efforts to address a public health crisis.
The situation is urgent. Maine cannot afford to let its forensic system collapse. The integrity of our justice system, public health efforts, and our shared sense of dignity are at risk. If lawmakers can justify a 61 percent pay raise for themselves, they must also explain why they are neglecting the necessary funding to ensure the health and safety of all Maine citizens.
The choice is clear: invest in the OCME now, or risk a future where justice is compromised, public health suffers, and Maine’s forensic credibility is lost. The people of Maine deserve better. They deserve answers, action, and a medical examiner’s office that meets the highest standards.
