Coroner’s Office

This is in response to the letter from Robert D. Tyre (Feb. 17), who expressed frustration over the handling of his niece Amy Tyre-Vigil by the Los Angeles County coroner’s office in the aftermath of the Jan. 17 earthquake.

Amy Tyre-Vigil died as a direct result of the earthquake. She was reportedly pronounced dead at 5 a.m. From the time she was pronounced dead until approximately 1 p.m., her death went unreported to the coroner. By the time her death was finally reported, she had been driven around in the back of a police car in an attempt to get a hospital morgue to accept her body, when by law she was the responsibility of the coroner. Had Amy’s body been left at the scene and immediately reported to the coroner (as the law also requires), she could have been handled and released by the following day, Jan. 18.

Amy’s body was released for services within 48 hours of coroner notification (considered the appropriate standard for body disposition based on recent management audits). Similarly, all of the disaster victims were handled in an expeditious and compassionate manner, despite the recent layoffs suffered by this office. Furthermore, the coroner did not lose property as alleged by Tyre. Amy’s clothing has been delivered to the family.

Yes, rescue efforts by fire, law enforcement and other agencies were the best anyone has seen. But in many cases the coroner was by their side in the field directly involved in the extrication of victims. No, recovering decedents from these tragic scenes does not win the coroner praise and admiration. But there are 145 hard-working, dedicated employees in this office who are keenly aware of the dramatically important role they play in providing compassionate and efficient service to the citizens of Los Angeles County. It is for these employees that we cannot permit allegations which generally paint each of them as “discourteous, insensitive and poorly trained” to remain uncontested. We don’t pretend to have an agency incapable of making mistakes, particularly during the stress of a disaster which stretches the human psyche to its outer limits. But we do not condone rudeness and we try to deal with it effectively, keeping in mind that mistakes by a few do not represent the performance of the entire organization.

ANTHONY T. HERNANDEZ

Interim Director

LAKSHMANAN

SATHYAVAGISWARAN MD

Chief Medical Examiner

Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office

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* Re “Marketing the Morgue,” Feb. 22:

Morgue humor is inappropriate. It is yet another way to glamorize crime and violence.

Supervisor Ed Edelman is right when he says the souvenirs are probably not such innocent fun for the families and friends of loved ones who have suffered violent or accidental deaths.

Marilyn Lewis (coroner’s office marketing coordinator) thinks we are awfully stuffy, and death is awfully scary, and something like this helps us tolerate things a little easier. You’ve got to be kidding. Maybe you’d like to go one step further and personalize the items. For example, get the family of the victim to provide a signature, or a photo and add that to the design?

This marketing idea is in the very worst of taste, and I find it hard to believe the Board of Supervisors would even have considered doing business this way.

When Marilyn Lewis has lost a family member or friend through violence or dreadful accident, let her market that image first.

PATRICIA MACE

Los Angeles