This bill proposes updates to section 11-597 of the Arizona Revised Statutes concerning the responsibilities of forensic pathologists and medical examiners in cases of sudden and unexplained infant deaths. Under current law, forensic pathologists are required to perform autopsies and notify the Department of Health Services if sudden infant death syndrome is determined. The current statute allows for the retention of tissue samples and biological materials for diagnostic purposes.

The proposed changes would add new requirements for the medical examiner or forensic pathologist to review the infant's immunization and vaccination history, as well as any countermeasures administered in the ninety days prior to the infant's death. Additionally, the bill mandates that all sudden and unexplained infant deaths be reported to a national case registry that tracks such incidents, following protocols established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 11-597