2022 California Code
Government Code - GOV
TITLE 3 - GOVERNMENT OF COUNTIES
DIVISION 2 - OFFICERS
PART 3 - OTHER OFFICERS
CHAPTER 10 - Coroner
ARTICLE 2.5 - Autopsy
Section 27522.
27522. (a) A forensic autopsy shall only be conducted by a licensed physician and surgeon. The results of a forensic autopsy shall only be determined by a licensed physician and surgeon.
(b) A forensic autopsy shall be defined as an examination of a body of a decedent to generate medical evidence for which the cause of death is determined. At the direction and supervision of a coroner, a medical examiner, or a licensed physician and surgeon, trained county personnel who are necessary to the performance of an autopsy may take body measurements or retrieve blood, urine, or vitreous samples from the body of a decedent.
(c) For purposes of this section, a postmortem examination shall be defined as the external examination of the body where no manner or cause of death is determined.
(d) For purposes of this section, the manner of death shall be determined by the coroner or medical examiner of a county. If a forensic autopsy is conducted by a licensed physician and surgeon, the coroner or medical examiner shall consult with the licensed physician and surgeon in the determination of the manner of death.
(e) For health and safety purposes, all persons in the autopsy suite shall be informed of the risks presented by bloodborne pathogens and that they should wear personal protective equipment in accordance with the requirements described in Section 5193 of Title 8 of the California Code of Regulations or its successor.
(f) (1) Only individuals who are directly involved in the investigation of the death of the decedent shall be allowed into the autopsy suite.
(2) If an individual dies due to the involvement of law enforcement activity, law enforcement personnel directly involved in the death of that individual shall not be involved with any portion of the postmortem examination, nor allowed inside the autopsy suite during the performance of the autopsy.
(3) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), individuals may be permitted in the autopsy suite for educational and research purposes at the discretion of the coroner and in consultation with any licensed physician and surgeon conducting an autopsy.
(g) Any police reports, crime scene or other information, videos, or laboratory tests that are in the possession of law enforcement and are related to a death that is incident to law enforcement activity shall be made available to the physician and surgeon who conducts the autopsy prior to the completion of the investigation of the death.
(h) This section shall not be construed to limit the practice of an autopsy for educational or research purposes.
(Added by Stats. 2016, Ch. 787, Sec. 7. (SB 1189) Effective January 1, 2017.)
