Bill > SB101

This bill imposes new time-sensitive requirements on the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) regarding autopsies and autopsy reports. Specifically, when a prosecuting attorney or judge requests an autopsy, the OCME must now conduct the autopsy within 72 hours of receiving the request, but only if the body is already in their possession. Additionally, the bill mandates that a complete autopsy report, including any death investigation reports from county-level medical examiners, must be furnished to the prosecuting attorney within 24 hours of the autopsy's completion. These new provisions aim to expedite the medical examination process in death investigations, potentially helping law enforcement and judicial proceedings move more quickly. The bill maintains existing provisions about record-keeping, confidentiality, and the ability to release reports to various parties such as law enforcement, courts, hospitals, and physicians, while ensuring that criminal proceedings take precedence over civil matters when there are conflicting interests.

Health and Social Services

http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/Bills_history.cfm?input=101&year=2025&sessiontype=RS&btype=bill