The proposed bill would amend current statutes regarding the supervision of autopsies and related functions performed by medical students, residents, and fellows in pathology training. Under the new law, a licensed physician would only need to be trained, rather than board-certified, in forensic pathology to supervise these activities. This change is reflected in the deletion of the requirement for board certification and the insertion of the term "trained" in the relevant sections of the Arizona Revised Statutes. Additionally, the bill clarifies that medical students, residents, or fellows in pathology training may perform functions of the county medical examiner under the supervision of a licensed physician trained in forensic pathology.

Furthermore, the bill makes several technical and conforming changes to existing language, including the insertion of provisions that authorize medical students, residents, or fellows to perform duties under the supervision of a trained physician. It also updates terminology, replacing "dead person" with "decedent" throughout the statutes, and ensures that the responsibilities and procedures related to the duties of medical examiners are clearly defined. Overall, these updates aim to streamline the process and expand the pool of qualified individuals who can participate in forensic pathology training and autopsy supervision.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 11-594, 32-3207, 36-831, 11-593, 28-668, 13-1210, 36-670, 11-251.08
Senate Engrossed Version: 11-594, 32-3207, 36-831, 11-593, 28-668, 13-1210, 36-670, 11-251.08
Chaptered Version: 11-594, 32-3207, 36-831, 11-593, 28-668, 13-1210, 36-670, 11-251.08