The number of autopsies performed by the Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office has increased apace with the county’s population, according to the office’s 2010 annual report, released this week. The office received nearly 5,000 referrals last year – including for out-of-county cases in the 42 counties for which TCME provides services by interlocal agreement. In Travis County, the office conducted 820 autopsies, 46% of its work. Of the year’s cases, 44% were accidental deaths, 35% were natural deaths, 14% were suicides, and 6% were homicides. Of the 61 homicides, more than half (32) were caused by firearm injury; 16 were due to blunt-force trauma. The most common cause of accidental deaths was falling (144), followed by auto accidents (120) and drug toxicity (119). See the complete report: Travis County Medical Examiner’s 2010 Report.

This article appears in November 11 • 2011.

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