clipped from www.innocenceproject.org
In the wake of the Feb. 15 hearings that cleared two Innocence Project clients after a combined three decades in prison for crimes they didn’t commit, more allegations of misconduct have been raised against medical examiner Steven Hayne and forensic dentist Michael West. An attorney for a New York woman charged with manslaughter in the death of her daughter has asked for a state review of Hayne’s finding that the victim was suffocated. But since Mississippi has lacked a state medical examiner since the mid-1990s, there is not an official avenue to review Hayne’s findings. The Innocence Project sent a letter Feb. 14 to the commissioner of the Mississippi Dept. of Public Safety, asking him to appoint a State Medical Examiner immediately.
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I’ve followed Radley Balko’s coverage of the Mississippi medical examiner, who has been offering questionable testimony and forensic evidence for years, ever since Radley brought the issue to our [readers] attention.

Not only has Haynes’ credentials been brought into focus, but his clinical abilities as well. The good doctor readily admits to doing more autopsies a year than is recommended by the standard pathology certification board. In fact, Hayne’s admits to doing ~6-~7 times the number all while claiming he is “board certified”.

Radley’s research has pointed out that his “board certification” is questionable at best. What most forensic pathologists would consider “board certification” is not the same certification Dr. Haynes holds.

One would expect the media to be clamoring over this with the recent release of two inmates who were convicted partly on the testimony of Haynes. One serving a life sentence while the other sat on death row, both inmates were recently exonerated after a confession was received from a third party. Collectively, both inmates lost 30 years of time for crimes they did not commit.

I would suggest you take the time to read through the back story at http://www.theAgitator.com for more information. While Radley’s discussions on his blog are driven from personal opinion, the research underlying his position is well covered and documented and deserved.
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