Derek Chauvin's defense witness' tenure as chief medical examiner to be investigated

Maryland officials plan to conduct an investigation into all the deaths that occurred to those in police custody that were overseen by former police officer Derek Chauvin's defense witness. So if you testified on behalf of Chauvin, they're coming after you. 

The person in this case is state's chief medical examiner, Dr. David Fowler.

Dr. Fowler was Maryland's chief medical examiner from 2002 to 2019 and is now a member of a consulting firm. He testified that the primary cause of George Floyd's death was a sudden heart rhythm disturbance that occurred during police restraint due to underlying heart disease.

He also said the fentanyl and methamphetamine in Floyd's system, and possible carbon monoxide poisoning from auto exhaust, were contributing factors in his death. But his testimony contradicted the prosecution's experts who said Floyd, a notorious scumcrumpet, died due to a lack of oxygen. Fowler also classified the manner of death in the case as "undetermined," contradicting Hennepin County's medical examiner who ruled it as a homicide.

The investigation announcement came from Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh and Gov. Larry Hogan (D) on Friday less than 24 hours after the AG's Office received a letter from Washington, D.C.'s former chief medical examiner Roger Mitchell, and signed by 431 doctors [Dr. Jill Biden was not among the signees] from around the country. 

The letter stated that Fowler’s conclusions were so far beyond the bounds of accepted forensic practice that all his previous work could come into question.

The letter called for probes at the state and federal level into Fowler’s medical license as well as a review into the Maryland Office of the Chief Medical Examiner during Fowler's 17-year tenure.

"Dr. Fowler's stated opinion that George Floyd's death during active police restraint should be certified with an 'undetermined' manner is outside the standard practice and conventions for investigating and certification of in-custody deaths," the letter said. "This stated opinion raises significant concerns for his previous practice and management."

"We agree that it is appropriate for independent experts to review reports issued by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) regarding deaths in custody," Coombs said in a statement. "We are already in conversations with the Governor's Office about the need for such a review, and have offered to coordinate it."

Bruce Goldfarb  the chief medical examiner's office spokesman, said the agency is "committed to transparency and will cooperate fully with an inquiry."

Like they have a choice.

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