The bill amends West Virginia Code §61-12-10 regarding postmortem examinations, specifically outlining the procedures and timelines for conducting autopsies. It mandates that if an autopsy is requested by a prosecuting attorney or a judge, it must be conducted within 72 hours of the request. Additionally, it requires that a copy of the autopsy report, along with any death investigation reports from the county medical examiner, be provided to the prosecuting attorney within 24 hours of completion. This aims to ensure timely access to critical information for legal proceedings.

Furthermore, the bill clarifies the responsibilities of the chief medical examiner in relation to the release of autopsy and investigation records. It allows for the release of these records to various parties, including multidisciplinary teams and designated hospital representatives, for quality review and medical record completion. The bill also emphasizes the importance of notifying relevant programs in cases of suspected sudden infant death syndrome and mandates reporting to the West Virginia Controlled Substances Monitoring Program Database Review Committee in cases of drug overdose deaths.

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