MEDICAL EXAMINERS, IN EXERCISING THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES OF DETERMINING IDENTITY, AS WELL AS THE CAUSE AND MANNER OF DEATH, INFLUENCE INSURANCE SETTLEMENTS, PROSECUTIONS, AND PRODUCT SAFETY. HOWEVER, THE NATURE OF THE JOB IS DEPENDENT ON THE TERRITORY. FOR EXAMPLE, THE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S ROLE IN NEW YORK CITY, WHICH AVERAGES 1,800 HOMICIDES PER YEAR, IS QUITE DIFFERENT FROM THAT IN A RURAL AREA, WHICH HAS FAR LESS OF A VOLUME OF WORK. THE AUTOPSY IS ONLY ONE INVESTIGATIVE TOOL AVAILABLE TO THE MEDICAL EXAMINER, WHO CAN ALSO INVESTIGATE THE DEATH SCENE AS WELL AS REVIEW OTHER PIECES OF EVIDENCE. THE OFFICES OF CORONER AND MEDICAL EXAMINER DIFFER IN THAT THE MEDICAL EXAMINER MAY POSSESS THE SKILLS OF A FORENSIC PATHOLOGIST AND BE AN APPOINTED OFFICIAL SUBJECT TO POLITICAL PRESSURE. MOST CORONERS ARE NOT MEDICAL DOCTORS. INSTEAD THEY ARE ELECTED COUNTY OFFICIALS