Coroner wants to test people who die with virus symptoms
By TAYLOR BROWN
tbrown@yourmvi.com
Washington County Coroner Timothy Warco is unhappy that county residents who die with COVID-19 symptoms aren’t being tested for the virus.
“There are several factors behind our frustrations, but the tipping point for my office was an individual who had symptoms similar to COVID-19 who passed away at their residence,” Warco said. “An ambulance crew and Pennsylvania state police learned they had potentially been exposed to the virus. My office was contacted, as it always is for home deaths.”
Warco said troopers asked him to test the deceased individual for the virus, but he wasn’t able to despite requests to receive test kits from the Department of Health.
“I was unable to do so, because we have no means to perform that testing,” Warco said. “Though we’ve made several requests through the channels the Department of Health has outlined, I have yet to receive a single test kit.”
Warco said troopers were recommended to isolate because of the potential exposure.
On March 27, Warco sent out a media release outlining his concerns, followed by a letter to DOH Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine. The letter made a bit of headway and led to a March 28 conference call between Meghna Patel, the state’s Deputy Secretary for Health Innovation, and leaders of the Pennsylvania State Coroners Association.
Warco said the DOH listened to concerns and said it would inform officials how to order supplies and further directions — but that information never came.
“Yet today, I still face the same challenges, with zero satisfaction from the Department of Health’s leadership,” Warco said.
There are several problems in dealing with COVID-19 related deaths, including being instructed by the DOH to not report virus-related deaths to coroners, Warco said.
“This is an absurd point of view and I vehemently disagree,” Warco said. “I have directed health care leadership in Washington County to report these deaths.”
Without a way to test the deceased, Warco said the health and well-being of others is put at risk.
“No kits have been provided from the Department of Health; I have attempted to contract with private laboratories who tell me they want to focus on the living because they are ‘actionable,’” Warco said. “I disagree. In life, the deceased have come into contact with no fewer people than any living person who is ill.
“Further, we are putting our first responders’ lives in jeopardy by sending them into unsafe situations with no way to confirm or negate exposure.”
Warco said not testing deaths for the virus leads to flawed statistics.
“Not everyone seeks treatment at a hospital or doctor’s office,” he said. “Confirming suspected COVID-19 deaths at home adds a whole new vector to tracking how and to where this disease is transmitted.
“The Department of Health is ignoring this vector as if to say ‘This is good enough for us.’”
To address his concerns, as executive vice president of the Pennsylvania State Coroner’s Association, which represents Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Washington and Westmoreland counties, the association has set a few goals.
The association wants to ensure deaths are being reported.
“Coroners must not be cut out of the reporting process,” Warco said. “The law says deaths, ‘known or suspected to be due to contagious disease and constituting a public hazard’ are to be reported to the coroner. The Department of Health is attempting to interpret this law for us, which they have no authority to do.”
DOH released information on reporting deaths Wednesday.
According to the guidance, most deaths attributed to COVID-19 are considered natural and should be reported directly by medical professionals to the state’s Electronic Death Registration System, a new program being used throughout the state.
The EDRS currently has more than 2,000 users.
The report said medical professionals are required to report all deaths where the manner is natural, “including those cases where a condition reported as the cause of death may be probable or pending results.”
The report also states, “all cases where the medical certifier is uncertain if the manner of death was natural or where the circumstances surrounding the case indicate a non-natural death (such as accident, homicide, suicide, or undetermined), the case must be referred to a coroner or medical examiner for investigation as outlined.”
Warco said the EDRS was implemented without much training.
“The state has mandated an electronic death certificate in the middle of a pandemic, before health practitioners and even some coroner’s offices have had an opportunity to register and be trained on the system,” he said.
Warco said some area counties don’t have a health department.
“During these times, residents and first responders are looking to their county coroners and public safety departments alike,” he said. “Unfortunately, my office’s proverbial arms are being tied.
“We are facing a public health crisis and the Department of Health is not working in the interest of all. It is our duty and responsibility as county coroners, as public servants, to do all we can to protect our communities,” Warco said.
