State Codes and Statutes

Statutes > New-jersey > Title-52 > Section-52-17b > 52-17b-92

52:17B-92.  Records of medical examiners;  use as evidence;  right to copies
    It shall be the duty of the State Medical Examiner, and the county medical examiners, to keep full and complete records in their respective offices, properly indexed, giving the name, if known, of every such person, the place where the body was found, date and cause of death, and all other available information relating thereto.  The original report of the State Medical Examiner, assistant State medical examiners, or county medical examiners, and the detailed findings of the autopsy, if any, shall be attached to the record of each case.  The State Medical Examiner, or in case of his absence or inability, an assistant State medical examiner, and the county medical examiners, shall promptly deliver to the county prosecutor of the county wherein the death occurred copies of all records relating to every death in which, in the judgment of such medical examiner, further investigation may be deemed advisable.  The county prosecutor may obtain from the office of the State Medical Examiner, or of the county medical examiners, as the case may be,  copies of such records or other information which he may deem necessary. The  records of the office of the State Medical Examiner, and of the county medical  examiners, made by themselves or by anyone under their direction or supervision, or transcripts thereof certified by such medical examiner, shall be received as competent evidence in any court in this State of the matters and  facts therein contained.  A reasonable fee may be charged to private persons  for copies of such records and upon such conditions as may be prescribed by the State Medical Examiner;  provided, however, that no person with a proper interest in such records shall be denied access thereto.  All such fees collected by the State Medical Examiner and county medical examiners shall be  paid into the State Treasury or county treasury, respectively, on or before the  tenth day of each month.  The records which shall be admissible as evidence  under this section shall be records of the results of views and examinations of  or autopsies upon the bodies of deceased persons by such medical examiner, or  by anyone under his direct supervision or control, and shall not include  statements made by witnesses or other persons.

     L.1967, c. 234, s. 15, eff. Jan. 1, 1968.