1993 Alaska Statutes
TITLE 12 CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
Chapter 12.65 CORONERS AND MEDICAL EXAMINERS
Section 12.65.020 EXAMINATIONS BY STATE MEDICAL EXAMINER AND INQUESTS BY CORONER.

(a) When a person dies unattended by a physician, or when no physician is prepared to execute the certificate of death prescribed by AS 18.50 (Vital Statistics Act), the coroner assigned to serve the place where the death occurs may, under regulations of the Department of Health and Social Services, request the state medical examiner to view the remains of the deceased person, perform the post mortem examination, including an autopsy, or take other actions that are appropriate under the circumstances to make a proper determination of the cause of death and to execute the prescribed death certificate. When the state medical examiner has completed the examination or taken other actions that are appropriate under the circumstances, the examiner shall, without delay, complete, certify, and sign the death certificate and submit a report of the examiner's findings and conclusions to the coroner.

(b) The coroner may order an inquest under this chapter if the findings and conclusions of the state medical examiner, together with other information available to the coroner, warrant the inquest. Otherwise the coroner shall enter an order dispensing with the inquest and shall record the certificate of death as prescribed by law.

(c) The Department of Health and Social Services shall adopt regulations to implement (a) of this section after consultation with the Department of Public Safety and the Alaska Court System.