An inquest is an investigation into the cause and circumstances of a death. Laws vary from state to state and the circumstances under which an inquest may be required are usually specified in a state’s statutes.

For example, if a person dies in a county with a medical examiner, the medical examiner (or authorized deputy) may be required to conduct an inquest under the these and other circumstances:

• when a person dies within 24 hours after being admitted to a hospital or institution, or dies in prison or jail;

• when a person is killed, or dies from an unnatural cause of death (unless executed by the state for a crime), or dies without one or more good witnesses;

• when the body or a body part of a person is found, and the cause or circumstances of death are unknown;

• when the circumstances of the death of any person lead to suspicion the person died by unlawful means;

• when any person commits suicide, or the circumstances of the person's death lead to suspicion the person committed suicide;

• when a person dies without having been attended by a duly licensed and practicing physician, and the local health officer or registrar required to report the cause of death does not know the cause of death;

• when the person is a child and the death is required to be reported by law; and

• when a person dies who has been attended immediately preceding death by a duly licensed and practicing physician or physicians, and such physician or physicians are not certain as to the cause of death and are unable to certify with certainty the cause of death.

In New York State, an inquest into the cause and circumstances of a death is typically conducted under the jurisdiction of the county medical examiner or coroner, depending on the county's system. The circumstances that may require an inquest or a forensic investigation are outlined in Article 17-A of the New York County Law. These circumstances include deaths that are sudden, suspicious, or involve criminal activity, as well as deaths that occur under conditions similar to those listed in the provided description, such as deaths occurring within 24 hours of hospital admission, deaths without witnesses, deaths by suicide, and deaths of children under certain conditions. Additionally, if a death occurs without medical attendance or if the attending physician is unable to ascertain the cause of death, an investigation may be mandated. The medical examiner or coroner has the authority to decide whether an autopsy is necessary and to conduct further investigation to determine the cause and manner of death. The findings from such investigations can be used for legal and public health purposes.