A coroner or forensics examiner is an official chiefly responsible for investigating deaths, particularly some of those happening under unusual circumstances, and determining the cause of death. Depending on the jurisdiction, the coroner may adjudge the cause him/herself, or act as the presiding officer of a special court . The office originated in medieval England[1][2] and has been adapted in many countries which have at some time been under the influence of England or the United Kingdom. The additional roles concerning other judicial investigations and the legal and medical qualifications (if any) of the coroner vary significantly between jurisdictions and are described under the entry for each jurisdiction.