Longtime county coroner to discuss book

COEUR d'ALENE - Robert S. West, M.D., the physician-coroner for Kootenai County from 1970 to 2011 will discuss his new book, "It Can (And Does) Happen Here" at the Coeur d'Alene Public Library on July 13 at 5 p.m.

This free after-hours Book Talk event is sponsored by the Library Foundation in the Community Room at the library 702 E. Front Ave. Signed copies of the book will be available with a portion of proceeds benefitting the Library Foundation.

A native of North Dakota and trained as a surgeon at Harvard, West is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He practiced surgery while fulfilling coroner duties in Kootenai County and raised five children with his wife, Martha.

In his book West relates some of his experiences and also explores the shortcomings of the coroner/medical examiner system and how it can be improved.