The proposed bill, known as the "Sudden Death Reporting and Vaccine Transparency Act," aims to enhance the investigation and reporting of sudden or unexplained deaths in West Virginia. It establishes a new article in the state code that outlines the responsibilities of medical examiners in documenting vaccination histories and emergency countermeasures administered within 90 days prior to a death. The bill defines various terms related to sudden deaths, including Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID), and emphasizes the importance of accurate forensic investigations to determine the causes of these deaths.

Additionally, the bill mandates that the Chief Medical Examiner submit relevant case information, including vaccination data, to national health registries while ensuring the confidentiality of individual medical records. It provides for the creation of standardized procedures for documentation and reporting, as well as penalties for noncompliance by medical examiners, including administrative fines and mandatory training. The overarching goal of the legislation is to improve public health research and transparency regarding sudden deaths while safeguarding individual rights and medical privacy.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 61-12C-1, 61-12C-2, 61-12C-3, 61-12C-4, 61-12C-5, 61-12C-6, 61-12C-7, 61-12C-8