Bulic brings national accreditation to office

During this morning’s meeting of the St Johns County commission, Historic City News learned that Dr. Predrag Bulic has accomplished a goal which he set out to achieve when he began employment as the District 23 Chief Medical Examiner; national accreditation for his office that investigates all violent, suspicious or unusual deaths.

The Board presented a ceremonial plaque to Dr. Bulic in commemoration of being recognized and accredited by the National Association of Medical Examiners; one of only two private, national organizations to offer such certification.

“The National Association of Medical Examiners standards are recognized as the model for national standards and the group has certified nearly 70 offices to date,” Bulic told Historic City News local reporters.

On investigation, HCN discovered that there is no federal oversight of death investigators, or the offices in which they work. There are published reports of body parts being lost, murderers going free because of incompetent autopsies, and botched autopsies that have sent innocent people to prison for life.

Historic City News obtained a copy of the National Academy of Sciences study that recommends national standards for death investigation because there is so much variation between the states.

“Hospitals are accredited and barbers are accredited,” observed Historic City News editor, Michael Gold. “You would think that a medical legal death investigation system would have to go through a periodic inspection and accreditation, too.”

The recognition of the District 23 Medical Examiner and his office by the National Association of Medical Examiners resulted in accreditation that must be recertified every five years.

Factoid: Many people think that County Administrator Michael Wanchick is the highest paid county employee; earning $193,000 plus benefits annually as of the new budget year that started October 1. There is one employee who tops Wanchick, but, he is a medical doctor and his salary is actually shared between St Johns, Putnam, and Flagler counties. Acting as a fiduciary for Medical Examiner District 23, St Johns County employs and provides the office space for Dr. Predrag Bulic, whose salary is $201,000 plus benefits per year.

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