A. If, in the opinion of the medical examiner investigating the death or ofthe Chief Medical Examiner, it is advisable and in the public interest thatan autopsy be made or if an autopsy is requested by the attorney for theCommonwealth or by a judge of the circuit court of the county or city whereinsuch body is or where death occurred or wherein any injury contributing to orcausing death was sustained, an autopsy shall be performed by the ChiefMedical Examiner, an assistant chief medical examiner or a pathologistemployed as provided in § 32.1-281. Upon petition of a member of theimmediate family or the spouse of the deceased in a case of death by injury,such circuit court may, for good cause shown, order an autopsy, afterproviding notice and an opportunity to be heard to the attorney for theCommonwealth for the jurisdiction wherein the injury contributing to orcausing death was sustained or where death occurred. Further, in all cases ofdeath suspected to be attributable to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), anautopsy shall be advisable and in the public interest and shall be performedas required by § 32.1-285.1. A full record and report of the facts developedby the autopsy and findings of the person making such autopsy shall bepromptly made and filed with the Chief Medical Examiner and a copy furnishedthe judge or attorney for the Commonwealth requesting such autopsy. In thediscretion of the Chief Medical Examiner or the medical examiner, a copy ofany autopsy report or findings may be furnished to any appropriate attorneyfor the Commonwealth and to the appropriate law-enforcement agencyinvestigating the death.
B. In the case of a child death for which an autopsy is performed and theautopsy indicates child abuse or neglect contributed to the cause of thedeath, or the child suffered from abuse and neglect, the medical examinerconducting the autopsy shall report the case immediately to the childprotective services unit of the local Department of Social Services.
(Code 1950, § 32-31.19; 1952, c. 318; 1960, c. 366; 1975, c. 475; 1979, c.711; 1989, c. 66; 1991, c. 644; 1993, c. 965; 2003, c. 368.)
A. If, in the opinion of the medical examiner investigating the death or ofthe Chief Medical Examiner, it is advisable and in the public interest thatan autopsy be made or if an autopsy is requested by the attorney for theCommonwealth or by a judge of the circuit court of the county or city whereinsuch body is or where death occurred or wherein any injury contributing to orcausing death was sustained, an autopsy shall be performed by the ChiefMedical Examiner, an assistant chief medical examiner or a pathologistemployed as provided in § 32.1-281. Upon petition of a member of theimmediate family or the spouse of the deceased in a case of death by injury,such circuit court may, for good cause shown, order an autopsy, afterproviding notice and an opportunity to be heard to the attorney for theCommonwealth for the jurisdiction wherein the injury contributing to orcausing death was sustained or where death occurred. Further, in all cases ofdeath suspected to be attributable to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), anautopsy shall be advisable and in the public interest and shall be performedas required by § 32.1-285.1. A full record and report of the facts developedby the autopsy and findings of the person making such autopsy shall bepromptly made and filed with the Chief Medical Examiner and a copy furnishedthe judge or attorney for the Commonwealth requesting such autopsy. In thediscretion of the Chief Medical Examiner or the medical examiner, a copy ofany autopsy report or findings may be furnished to any appropriate attorneyfor the Commonwealth and to the appropriate law-enforcement agencyinvestigating the death.
B. In the case of a child death for which an autopsy is performed and theautopsy indicates child abuse or neglect contributed to the cause of thedeath, or the child suffered from abuse and neglect, the medical examinerconducting the autopsy shall report the case immediately to the childprotective services unit of the local Department of Social Services.
(Code 1950, § 32-31.19; 1952, c. 318; 1960, c. 366; 1975, c. 475; 1979, c.711; 1989, c. 66; 1991, c. 644; 1993, c. 965; 2003, c. 368.)
A. If, in the opinion of the medical examiner investigating the death or ofthe Chief Medical Examiner, it is advisable and in the public interest thatan autopsy be made or if an autopsy is requested by the attorney for theCommonwealth or by a judge of the circuit court of the county or city whereinsuch body is or where death occurred or wherein any injury contributing to orcausing death was sustained, an autopsy shall be performed by the ChiefMedical Examiner, an assistant chief medical examiner or a pathologistemployed as provided in § 32.1-281. Upon petition of a member of theimmediate family or the spouse of the deceased in a case of death by injury,such circuit court may, for good cause shown, order an autopsy, afterproviding notice and an opportunity to be heard to the attorney for theCommonwealth for the jurisdiction wherein the injury contributing to orcausing death was sustained or where death occurred. Further, in all cases ofdeath suspected to be attributable to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), anautopsy shall be advisable and in the public interest and shall be performedas required by § 32.1-285.1. A full record and report of the facts developedby the autopsy and findings of the person making such autopsy shall bepromptly made and filed with the Chief Medical Examiner and a copy furnishedthe judge or attorney for the Commonwealth requesting such autopsy. In thediscretion of the Chief Medical Examiner or the medical examiner, a copy ofany autopsy report or findings may be furnished to any appropriate attorneyfor the Commonwealth and to the appropriate law-enforcement agencyinvestigating the death.
B. In the case of a child death for which an autopsy is performed and theautopsy indicates child abuse or neglect contributed to the cause of thedeath, or the child suffered from abuse and neglect, the medical examinerconducting the autopsy shall report the case immediately to the childprotective services unit of the local Department of Social Services.
(Code 1950, § 32-31.19; 1952, c. 318; 1960, c. 366; 1975, c. 475; 1979, c.711; 1989, c. 66; 1991, c. 644; 1993, c. 965; 2003, c. 368.)
