2014 Kentucky Revised Statutes CHAPTER 72 - CORONERS, INQUESTS, AND MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS 72.026 Testing for presence of controlled substances in post-mortem examination -- When required -- Reporting of drug overdose -- Administrative regulations.
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72.026 Testing for presence of controlled substances in post-mortem
examination -- When required -- Reporting of drug overdose -Administrative regulations.
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Unless another cause of death is clearly established, in cases requiring a
post-mortem examination under KRS 72.025 the coroner or medical examiner
shall take a blood sample and have it tested for the presence of any controlled
substances which were in the body at the time of death.
If a coroner or medical examiner determines that a drug overdose is the cause
of death of a person, he or she shall provide notice of the death to:
(a) The state registrar of vital statistics and the Department of Kentucky State
Police. The notice shall include any information relating to the drug that
resulted in the overdose. The state registrar of vital statistics shall not
enter the information on the deceased person's death certificate unless
the information is already on the death certificate; and
(b) The licensing board for the individual who prescribed or dispensed the
medication, if known. The notice shall include any information relating to
the drug that resulted in the overdose, including the individual authorized
by law to prescribe or dispense drugs who dispensed or prescribed the
drug to the decedent.
This subsection shall not apply to reporting the name of a pharmacist who
dispensed a drug based on a prescription.
The state registrar of vital statistics shall report, within five (5) business days of
the receipt of a certified death certificate or amended death certificate, to the
Division of Kentucky State Medical Examiners Office, any death which has
resulted from the use of drugs or a drug overdose.
The Justice and Public Safety Cabinet in consultation with the Kentucky State
Medical Examiners Office shall promulgate administrative regulations
necessary to administer this section.
Effective:July 20, 2012
History: Created 2012 (1st Extra. Sess.) Ky. Acts ch. 1, sec. 7, effective July 20,
2012.
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