Medical examiner will require in-person cremation viewings, citing best practices

St. Croix County's medical examiner told the Public Protection and Judiciary Committee the office will move from accepting virtual cremation viewings to conducting in-person viewings before signing cremation authorizations. After researching practices at other counties and statewide best-practice guidance, the ME said in-person assessment allows trained staff to notice subtle postmortem changes and confirm identification.

"This is best standard. This is best practice," the medical examiner said, adding that "there's no going back" once a body is cremated. The office plans to coordinate viewings at in-county funeral homes and, where facilities or distance make in-person viewing impractical, will use on-call staff to document decedents for out-of-county or out-of-state providers.