Interviewing Medical Examiners

The COVID-19 pandemic had a devastating impact on the global population. Within the U.S., the death toll had seen overwhelming numbers. Additionally, the for-profit funeral system has maintained extortionate funeral costs. For families not expecting the death of a loved one so soon, this could have contributed to the rise of unclaimed bodies within the U.S. This prompts demographic and causal questions surrounding the rise of unclaimed bodies. 

The Problem

Within the U.S., a funeral can cost a family thousands of dollars. Unexpected deaths can create strains on families. As there is a rise in unclaimed bodies within the U.S., our team of researchers are asking demographic and causal questions surrounding this sobering trend. 

In the aftermath of COVID-19, this research illuminates how U.S. society handles the unclaimed and what factors contribute to the rise of unclaimed bodies. This research presents philosophical and fundamental questions about our society as we face this issue. 

Team

• 3 Researchers

Semi-Structured Interviews

The protocol for the semi-structured interviews included closed ended questions aimed at gathering the demographics of the unclaimed. These interviews also included open ended questions to gather insights on this trend from the perspective of the medical examiner. After analyzing these interviews, we got foundational information on the demographics, the transfer of status, and what practices they do when someone goes unclaimed.

Study Plan

My P.I. and I created a protocol for a semi-structured interview. I conducted 10 semi-structured interviews with medical examiners across the country. Following the analysis of these interviews, I then conducted 10 in-depth interviews as follow-ups with the same medical examiners I had originally interviewed to better understand the factors leading to the rise in unclaimed bodies. A total of 20 interviews were conducted for this study. 

My Role

• Researcher

• Data Analyst

Timeline

• 3 months

In-Depth Interviews

After gathering foundational knowledge, I conducted 10 follow-up interviews with the medical examiners to get a deeper understanding of the transfer of status and the state’s funeral practices for the unclaimed. These interviews followed an in-depth interview protocol where the interviews were highly unstructured and allowed for detailed insights into the state’s funeral practices. 

Challenges

Analyzing detailed and complex data

The data gathered for this study was incredibly rich and complex to analyze. With the guidance of my P.I., I transcribed, annotated, and systematically analyzed the interview data. I identified key information that showcased the common factors that increase someone’s likelihood of going unclaimed and I found commonalities between state funeral practices for the unclaimed.

Reflections

Interviewing is a complex research method that requires deep engagement, empathy, and personable skills. During the first set of interviews (semi-structured), the closed-ended questions had made the cadence of the interview less engaging, however, as I transitioned into the more open-ended questions, the conversation became quite engaging. Interestingly enough, the in-depth interviews were also difficult as I had to ensure that I understood the expert knowledge before moving on to ensure all potential questions were covered. 

Beyond the interviews, I found the most difficulty in analyzing the complex data, but with a little guidance from my P.I., I enjoyed this process a lot. Even though I learned a lot during the actual interview, the analysis enabled me to gain a deeper understanding of the data. Overall, this was a challenging experience, but also a very rewarding one.