SR0583 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0583 LRB104 19106 ECR 32551 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The State of Illinois relies on medicolegal professionals, including medical examiners, coroners, forensic pathologists, death investigators, forensic scientists, and essential support staff, to serve at the critical intersection of medicine, law, and public safety; and

WHEREAS, Illinois medicolegal professionals are entrusted with the accurate and impartial investigation of deaths, the determination of cause and manner of death, and the application of scientific principles in support of the justice system; and

WHEREAS, These professionals are routinely required to respond to death scenes, mass fatality incidents, public health emergencies, natural disasters, and acts of violence alongside law enforcement, fire service, emergency medical services, and other public safety personnel; and

WHEREAS, Despite their essential on-scene and emergency response responsibilities, medicolegal professionals are not uniformly recognized as first responders, notwithstanding their exposure to hazardous environments, traumatic scenes, biohazards, and significant occupational stressors; and

WHEREAS, Acknowledging medicolegal professionals as first responders affirms the critical nature of their work, supports parity in professional recognition and resources, and enhances coordinated emergency response, responder wellness, and public safety outcomes; and

WHEREAS, The National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME) and the International Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners (IACME) have each issued position statements recognizing and affirming the essential role medicolegal professionals play in death investigation, public health, the administration of justice, and emergency response; and

WHEREAS, Recognizing medicolegal professionals fosters public awareness of the indispensable role these professionals play in protecting public health, ensuring accountability, and upholding justice across the State of Illinois; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we recognize medicolegal professionals, and we thank them for their invaluable service.