17. Medical Examiner’s Preliminary Report The medical examiners use Preliminary Reports is to determine the nature of the accident and provide conclusions regarding the causes of the fatality. Medical examiners investigate fatal accidents and publish reports to obtain and utilize information about the cause of the victims death. The preliminary report allows investigators to break down: the description of the deceased, information about occurrence, means of death (other than natural), crime scene conditions, medical history and a narrative summary of circumstances surrounding death.