LA County Coroners Agree with Dr. Fajardo that Department is Severely Understaffed, says Union of American Physicians and Dentists

LOS ANGELES, March 11, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Los Angeles County coroners were disappointed to hear of the resignation of medical examiner-coroner Mark Fajardo, agreeing with his assessment that the department is severely understaffed.  Dr. Fajardo told the Los Angeles Times, "Ultimately, I wasn't supplied the resources I need to perform my job duties...Every year we made requests for positions that needed to be filled…. Each year we were not supplied the personnel we need."  As of today, more than 30% of the County's coroner positions are unfilled, making it nearly impossible to handle the number of cases that pass through the department. 

Dr. Stuart A. Bussey, president of the Union of American Physicians and Dentists said, "Dr. Fajardo's departure shines a light on what the doctors working in the coroner's office have been saying all along, that the County needs to take action to fill these open positions."  Dr. Pedro Ortiz, who works as a Los Angeles coroner, said, "We do the best we can with what we're given, but we're not able to provide the services that the community really needs when we're so severely understaffed." 

SOURCE Union of American Physicians and Dentists

Related Links

http://www.uapd.com