Medical examiners perform autopsies on victims of criminal violence and such deaths must be reported to the medical examiner. Because few medical personnel are cognizant of the full extent of the types of deaths which must be reported and of the substantial noncriminal aspects of medical examiner services, this description of the Florida Medical Examiner System emphasizes these areas and deaths due to late sequelae of violence. Proper death certification is one aspect of medical practice in which most physicians receive absolutely no training; therefore the essential elements are briefly outlined.