In 2011, the general assembly enacted a law that requires coroners to perform a forensic autopsy or have a forensic autopsy performed under certain circumstances. As a result of that change, this bill repeals a provision that allows a coroner to ask a physician to make a scientific examination of the body of the deceased.
Current law allows a physician who is conducting a postmortem examination to remove the pituitary gland from the body of the deceased for medical research. The bill repeals this provision.
A coroner has additional legal duties when a person dies under certain circumstances that may require an investigation. The bill adds several additional duties and responsibilities for coroners when a person dies under those circumstances.