What establishes a conflict of interest for an MDI?

The identification and reporting of any personal conflicts is essential for a Medical Death Investigator (MDI) as it directly addresses the integrity and objectivity required in their role. When MDIs engage in investigations, they must ensure they are not influenced by personal interests, relationships, or biases that could compromise their findings and the impartiality of the investigative process. By determining and openly reporting personal conflicts, MDIs can maintain transparency and uphold ethical standards in their work, which is crucial for building trust with the communities they serve and ensuring that justice is upheld. This practice reinforces the credibility of investigations and helps to avoid situations where decisions may be questioned due to perceived bias or partiality.

In contrast, while personal opinions about investigations may influence an investigator’s perspective, they do not inherently establish a conflict of interest unless they affect the objectivity of the investigation. Working in multiple jurisdictions can create logistical challenges, but it does not automatically signify a conflict of interest unless those jurisdictions have overlapping interests that could bias the investigator's judgment. Similarly, having friends in law enforcement agencies could potentially pose a conflict, but it is only problematic if it leads to compromised impartiality, which is more directly addressed by the necessity of reporting personal conflicts.