Wichita ? A staffing shortage at a Wichita center that performs autopsies for dozens of Kansas counties has caused a backlog that in some cases has delayed death certificates that are required before survivors can collect life insurance.

In Gracie Hudson’s case, the Sedgwick County Regional Forensic Science Center told her it could take four months or more for a certified copy to be ready.

Hudson’s husband, 54-year-old John “Bud” Hudson, died alone Nov. 25 in his Arkansas City apartment. Because his death was unattended, state law requires an autopsy to determine cause of death.

Hudson and her son Travis are worried about how she will make it through the next few months without the life insurance money.

“All they’re telling me is that they’re backlogged,” Hudson told The Wichita Eagle. “My income has been cut by two-thirds, and I’m sure a lot of other people are in the same situation. I was able to get ahold of some savings, but I still need the life insurance as soon as I can. That’s the reason we paid for it and had it.”

Not quick process

Center officials say investigating a death isn’t like it appears on television shows like “CSI” or “Crossing Jordan,” and that it’s not realistic to expect a death certificate in a few weeks.

After the Hudsons contacted The Wichita Eagle about the problem, Sedgwick County Commissioner Kelly Parks called Gracie Hudson. The forensic center now says it probably won’t take that long to get the death certificate to her, though the coroner is waiting for some electrolyte tests.

Hudson said that was good news, but she’s still not completely satisfied.

“We’ve just lost a loved one and to give us news like that?” she said. “If it’s not going to take 16 to 18 weeks, they should be aware of their facts and what they’re telling people.”

Jaime Oeberst, district coroner and Sedgwick County’s chief medical examiner, said staffing issues are causing the backlog.

After the previous coroner left last year, Oeberst was the only full-time doctor. A part-time doctor helped out, but Oeberst wasn’t able to hire a deputy coroner until August. The County Commission recently approved funding for a third doctor who will start in July.

Autopsies required

State law requires an autopsy for sudden and unexpected natural deaths, accidental deaths, suicides and homicides. The coroner must determine the cause of death and the circumstances surrounding that death.

Oeberst couldn’t give an answer when asked how long it should take to receive a death certificate in a death not associated with a crime.

“It really varies depending on the nature of the case,” she said. “When you do an autopsy, oftentimes but not always the cause of death is apparent at the time of the autopsy. But there are a certain percentage of cases where that is not the case.”

Hudson believes her husband died of a heart attack. She said he had diabetes and had been suffering from a stomach flu. She lives in Garden City, while her husband worked in Arkansas City, where he died. He came home on weekends, she said.

At one time, Sedgwick County handled autopsy services for as many as 55 counties, said public safety director Bob Lamkey.

Parks questioned whether the county should handle autopsies from other jurisdictions while it has a backlog.

“If we’re not getting ours done in a timely fashion, why should we be out there doing other counties’?” he said, adding that his father died an unattended death in Hoisington and “we had the death certificate in 10 days.”

Lamkey said it’s not reasonable to expect a death certificate that quickly in all cases. Cases from other counties typically are complex, he said, which is why they end up at the Sedgwick County center.

And while he understands the concerns of family members, Lamkey said the general public doesn’t really grasp all that goes into an autopsy.

“Our reputation really rests on the quality of the work that we do to make sure that the science is accurate,” he said.