Audit of the Management of Organs Retained for Forensic Examination by the Armed Forces Medical Examiner

Submitting OIG:

Department of Defense OIG

Date Issued:

Monday, March 18, 2024

Agency Reviewed / Investigated:

Department of Defense

Submitting OIG-Specific Report Number:

DODIG-2024-062

Location(s):

Agency-Wide

Type of Report:

Audit

Questioned Costs:

Funds for Better Use:

Report updated under NDAA 5274:

View Document:

Attachment	Size
DODIG-2024-062-Redacted-SECURE.pdf	4.33 MB

Related Open Recommendations

Recommendation Number	Recommendation Status	Significant Recommendation
D-2024-0062-D000AU-0001-0001.A1b	Open	No
Rec. A.1.b: The DoD OIG recommended that the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness update and implement retained organ policy to align with current policy and practice related to retained organs and specimens.
D-2024-0062-D000AU-0001-0001.A1c	Open	No
Rec. A.1.c: The DoD OIG recommended that the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness continue to honor, to the extent practicable and consistent with section 1471, title 10, United States Code and current policy, proactive and timely requests from next of kin for religious accommodations related to forensic pathology investigations and disposition of remains. This includes updating and implementing the policy that retained organs and specimens are to be treated in the same manner as remains, when honoring religious accommodation.
D-2024-0062-D000AU-0001-0002.A2	Open	No
Rec. A.2: The DoD OIG recommended that the Director, Defense Health Agency, after the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness updates and implements policy, develop and implement Armed Forces Medical Examiner System policy, processes, and procedures related to retained organs or specimens.
D-2024-0062-D000AU-0002-0001.B1a	Open	No
Rec. B.1.a: The DoD OIG recommended that the Director, Defense Health Agency ensure that Armed Forces Medical Examiner System officials review and identify all locations, including the military medical treatment facilities, the Joint Pathology Center, and anywhere else retained organs may be stored, and verify that all retained organs are recovered and sent to the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware.
D-2024-0062-D000AU-0002-0001.B1b	Open	No
Rec. B.1.b: The DoD OIG recommended that the Director, Defense Health Agency consider the impact of separate disposition for organs because different specialty consultations were needed, versus disposition of decedent's retained organs together, and develop and implement policy and procedures accordingly.
D-2024-0062-D000AU-0002-0001.B1c	Open	No
Rec. B.1.c: The DoD OIG recommended that the Director, Defense Health Agency conduct a comprehensive analysis of the Armed Forces Medical Examiner Tracking System requirements to determine how to modernize or replace the Armed Forces Medical Examiner Tracking System.
D-2024-0062-D000AU-0002-0001.B1d	Open	No
Rec. B.1.d: The DoD OIG recommended that the Director, Defense Health Agency update and implement system capabilities to allow Armed Forces Medical Examiner System officials to effectively and efficiently track the progression of retained organ (specimens) from collection through disposition.

Department of Defense OIG

Department of Defense

The Department of Defense Office of Inspector General was established in 1982. The mission of the DoD OIG, as established by the Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended, (5 U.S.C. Appendix); and implemented by DoD Directive 5106.01, "Inspector General of the Department of Defense," is to serve as an independent and objective office in DoD to:

a) conduct, supervise, monitor, and initiate audits, evaluations, and investigations relating to programs and operations of the Department of Defense,

b) provide leadership and coordination and recommend policies for activities designed to promote economy, efficiency, and effectiveness in the administration of, and to prevent and detect fraud and abuse in, such programs and operations,

c) provide a means for keeping the Secretary of Defense and the Congress fully and currently informed about problems and deficiencies relating to the administration of such programs and operations and the necessity for and progress of corrective action

http://www.dodig.mil

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Audit of the Management of Organs Retained for Forensic Examination by the Armed Forces Medical Examiner

Related Open Recommendations