Bill S.210 proposes amendments to the existing law regarding access to autopsy reports in Vermont. The bill allows the Probate Division of the Superior Court to rule on petitions for access to autopsy reports. It specifies that when an autopsy is ordered by a Superior judge or the Attorney General, the Chief Medical Examiner will conduct the autopsy unless otherwise directed. The bill introduces new provisions that require the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to disclose a decedent's autopsy report to their personal representative, including the court-appointed executor or administrator of the estate, in compliance with federal health privacy laws.

Additionally, the bill outlines a process for individuals not authorized to receive the autopsy report to petition the Probate Division for access. Such petitions must include an affidavit detailing the petitioner's relationship to the decedent and the reason for the request. The petitioner is required to notify the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner within five business days of filing the petition. If the court finds a legitimate reason for the request, it will order the Office to provide the report. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 18-505