This bill amends West Virginia Code §61-12-10 regarding postmortem examinations, specifically focusing on the procedures and timelines for conducting autopsies and reporting findings. It stipulates that if an autopsy is requested by a prosecuting attorney or a judge, it must be conducted within 72 hours, provided the body is in the possession of the chief medical examiner at the time of the request. Additionally, the bill mandates that a copy of the autopsy report, along with any related death investigation reports, must be furnished to the prosecuting attorney within 24 hours of the autopsy's completion.

The bill also clarifies the responsibilities of the chief medical examiner in terms of record-keeping and the release of information. It allows for the release of autopsy and toxicology reports to designated representatives of hospitals and attending physicians for quality review and medical record completion. Furthermore, it includes provisions for notifying relevant programs in cases of suspected sudden infant death syndrome and for reporting drug overdose deaths to the West Virginia Controlled Substances Monitoring Program Database Review Committee. Overall, the bill aims to enhance the efficiency and transparency of the autopsy process in West Virginia.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 61-12-10