Death investigations in Ontario are led by the Office of the Chief Coroner and the Ontario Forensic Pathology Service. They work together to provide death investigations and inquests to ensure that no death will be overlooked, concealed or ignored. The findings are used to support the administration of justice and to generate recommendations to help improve public safety and prevent deaths in similar circumstances.

The classifications are natural, accident, suicide, homicide, undetermined, and pending. Only medical examiner's and coroners may use all of the manners of death. Other certifiers must use natural or refer the death to the medical examiner. The manner of death is determined by the medical examiner.

This course examines the various classifications of death and the roles of pathology and forensics.