examiners shall be appointed by
the Commission and shall serve
indefinite terms of office, subject
only to removal for cause, is
regarded as one of the keystones
in the success of the system. It is
a fact that the leading positions
in the Department of Post Mor-
tem Examiners by their nature
call for specially trained career
pathologists and toxicologists.
There is a real shortage of such
career oriented medical-legal pa-
thologists in the United States
and the inevitable result of es-
tablishing a system wherein con-
tinuity of appointment might be
dependent on political considera-
tions rather than satisfactory
performance would certainly
make the chief and assistant medi-
cal examiner positions in Mary-
land so unattractive that it would
be impossible to secure good men
for the jobs.

2. There arise from time to time
circumstances where medical ex-
aminers must make decisions and

STATEMENTS

render opinions which, athough
based on the facts of the case and
their professional knowledge and
experience, "are nonetheless dis-
tasteful to certain members of the
public including individuals in
high political places. Appointed
as the medical examiners are now,
they can rest assured that their
careers are not dependent upon
giving way to political pressure in
reaching such decisions.

The proposed change would do much
to weaken this status. The Post Mortem
Examiners Commission therefore hopes
that your Commission will re-examine
the matter with specific regard to the
Department of Post Mortem Examiners
and if action is needed to except us
from the proposed changes that you will
take such action. I will appreciate an
opportunity to appear before your Com-
mission in the event you would like
further information about this matter.

Yours very truly,

RUSSELL S. FISHER, M.D.
Chief Medical Examiner