The bill amends West Virginia Code §61-12-10, which governs postmortem examinations, by establishing specific timeframes for conducting autopsies and providing reports. It mandates that if an autopsy is requested by a prosecuting attorney or a judge, it must be conducted within 72 hours of the decedent's arrival at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Additionally, a copy of the autopsy report, along with any related death investigation reports, must be provided to the relevant prosecuting attorney within 24 hours of the autopsy's completion.

The bill also includes provisions 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 requires the chief medical examiner to notify the West Virginia Controlled Substances Monitoring Program Database Review Committee if a drug overdose is determined to be the cause of death. The legislation aims to enhance the efficiency and transparency of the autopsy process while ensuring that relevant parties receive timely information.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 61-12-10
Engrossed Version: 61-12-10
Enrolled Version: 61-12-10