Source: https://www.rcfp.org/open-government-sections/a-autopsy-and-coroners-reports/
Timestamp: 2019-04-24 12:26:24+00:00

Document:
AS 12.65.020 provides that the state medical examiner may perform a post-mortem examination, including an autopsy, necessary to make a proper determination of the cause of death and to complete the death certificate, when a death occurs in any of a variety of enumerated circumstances, or when the medical examiner feels the circumstances warrant investigation. The medical examiner must prepare a report of findings and conclusions to the coroner, to assist in determining whether to order an inquest. The medical examiner's investigative report is privileged and confidential, and not subject to disclosure pursuant to AS 40.25.
The coroner, upon receiving the report of a medical examiner, can either order an inquest, or enter an order dispensing with an inquest and record the death certificate. When it appears, from whatever source, that a death was by suicide or resulted from criminal conduct, the coroner must conduct an inquest by jury (unless a grand jury is looking into the death). The coroner's jury, after a hearing, must give a written verdict, signed and setting out the name of the deceased, when, where and by what means the deceased died, and, if the person died as a result of criminal conduct, who the jury believes is guilty. AS 09.55.062-.069. The statute does not address whether the coroner's inquest is confidential or public, so presumably it is public pursuant to AS 40.25.110 -.125.
Autopsy reports are not “vital records” that are confidential under A.R.S. § 36-342. See A.R.S. § 36-301(33) (defining vital records as either “a registered birth certificate or a registered death certificate”). A.R.S. § 11-597 does not prohibit disclosure of autopsy reports, but it only expressly provides for disclosure to county attorneys. In contrast, A.R.S. § 23-1072(A) expressly provides that the pathologist’s findings become part of the public record when the Industrial Commission of Arizona orders the performance of the autopsy.
In Parks, the court held that “autopsy reports are public records under A.R.S. §§ 11-594 and -597” and that the Pima County Forensic Center could not hold up disclosure pending notification of relatives unless it can point to “specific risks with respect to a specific disclosure.” 178 Ariz. at 605, 875 P.2d at 838. Although autopsy reports, autopsy photographs, and investigative materials are public records, a court must conduct an in camera review to balance competing interests before permitting the release of any documents because they “inherently raise significant privacy concerns.” Schoeneweis v. Hamner, 223 Ariz. 169, 173,175-76, 221 P.3d 48, 52, 54-55 (Ct. App. 2009).
Autopsy reports prepared by the State Medical Examiner are not considered medical records; however, these records are confidential under Ark. Code Ann. § 12-12-312(a) so long as they remain in the possession of the state crime lab. Once they leave the custody of the crime lab, however, the reports are subject to the FOIA unless another exemption, such as the act’s law enforcement exemption, Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-105(b)(6), is applicable. See Ark. Op. Att’y Gen. Nos. 2001-100, 99-110, 97-294, 87-353. If the autopsy report is prepared by someone other than the State Medical Examiner, the crime lab confidentiality statute would not apply. Ark. Op. Att’y Gen. Nos. 97-294 (autopsy report that was never in possession of crime lab is subject to disclosure), 87-135 (autopsy report of coroner qualified to conduct post mortem tests is available under FOIA unless otherwise exempted).
Records gathered and created during the course of a coroner’s investigation are exempt until the coroner’s final report is issued. However, medical information remains exempt, except as quoted in the final report. Ark. Code Ann. § 14-15-304.
Public, unless compiled by for law enforcement purposes and the prospect of law enforcement is concrete and definite, then, according to one appellate court case, the report may be withheld under the investigatory records exemption of the CPRA. Cal. Gov’t Code § 6254(f); Dixon v. Superior Court, 170 Cal. App. 4th 1271, 1276, 88 Cal. Rptr.3d 847 (2009) (holding that an autopsy report produced by a coroner’s inquiries into a suspected homicide where there exists the definite prospect of law enforcement is an investigatory file compiled for law enforcement purposes within the meaning of Section 6254(f)). Dixon, however, arguably is wrongly decided. The court’s decision turned on its determination that a coroner performing duties pursuant to an inquest into a criminally-related death is a law enforcement agency within the meaning of the investigatory records exemption of Section 6254(f). Id. at 1277. In so concluding, however, the court failed to cite or recognize the express provision directly governing a coroner’s inquest, including those involving investigations into the cause of death in criminally-related cases, which requires a coroner’s inquest be open to the public. Cal. Gov’t Code § 27491.6. Moreover, the court arguably applied an over broad interpretation of the investigatory records exemption by holding that the duties of a corner pursuant to an inquest under Government Code Section 27491 are performed “as a law enforcement agency” within the meaning of the investigatory records exemption of Section 6254(f) without any determination of whether the coroner is charged with the enforcement of criminal laws, as opposed to the enforcement of other laws, such as the issuance of subpoenas on witnesses or a summons of jury called to inquire as to the cause of death. See, e.g., Cal. Gov’t Code §§ 27492, 27499.
Moreover, earlier courts, before the adoption of the CPRA, had held that autopsy reports are public records. See People v. Williams, 174 Cal. App. 2d 364, 390, 345 P.2d 47 (1959)("An autopsy report is a record that the coroner is required to keep (Gov. Code § 27491) and is therefore, a public record (citations omitted)."); Walker v. Superior Court, 155 Cal. App. 2d 134, 138-39, 317 P.2d 130 (1957); see generally Cal. Gov't Code § 27491 (setting forth duties of coroners); § 27491.6 (requiring inquests performed by coroner be open to the public). The Legislature was no doubt aware of these decisions when it enacted the CPRA, and could have expressly exempted coroners' reports from public disclosure, but did not do so. See also San Francisco Examiner v. Plummer, 19 Med. L. Rptr. 1319 (1991) (in a decision not certified for publication, a superior court judge held that a county sheriff's department was required to release autopsy records of victims of the Nimitz Freeway collapse during the 1989 San Francisco earthquake).
Coroners' autopsy reports are specifically excluded from the general medical records exemption under § 24-72-204(3)(a)(I). The Colorado Supreme Court has held that this section shows the clear intent of the legislature to classify autopsy reports as public records open to inspection. Denver Publ'g Co. v. Dreyfus, 184 Colo. 288, 520 P.2d 104 (1974). If it is found in an inquest into the death of a person that a crime has been committed on the deceased, and the report names the person who the jury believes committed the crime, the inquest is not to be made public until after the suspect has been arrested. Colo. Rev. Stat. § 30-10-613.
Autopsy reports are not criminal justice records. An autopsy report on a homicide victim may be withheld from public inspection by its custodian only under the procedure in the Open Records Act for denying access based on "substantial injury to the public interest." Freedom Newspapers Inc. v. Bowerman, 739 P.2d 881 (Colo. App. 1987); Bodelson v. Denver Post Corp., 5 P.3d 373 (Colo. App. 2000) (unique public grieving in the immediate aftermath of the Columbine High School massacre justifies non-disclosure of victims' autopsies).
In Galvin v. FOIC, 201 Conn. 448, 518 A.2d 64 (1986), the Supreme Court held that autopsy reports are exempt from disclosure under Conn. Gen. Stat. §19a-411.
Autopsy reports are exempt from the Act as investigatory files and are afforded protection under Delaware's Health Record Privacy Statute. 29 Del. C. §§ 10002(g)(3), 1000(2)(g)(1) and 16 Del. C. § 1230.
The common law right of privacy does not survive the death of the holder. Lawson v. Meconi, 2005 WL 1323123 (Del. Ch. May 27, 2005). Autopsy reports are occasionally treated as exempt under open records exemption four relating to investigations. Coroner reports will likely be treated similarly.
Under D.C. laws governing the medical examiner, any person with a "legitimate interest" may gain access to autopsy reports. D.C. Code Ann. § 5-1412(c). This right can be enforced by court order. Id. Although the government may attempt to protect autopsy reports by asserting the privacy, investigatory records or Vital Records Act exemptions, those exemptions do not permit nondisclosure if the Medical Examiner's statute requires disclosure. D.C. Code Ann. § 2-534(c); Dunhill v. Director, 416 A.2d 244, 247-48 (D.C. 1980).
The Act does not exempt autopsy or coroners’ reports. See Kilgore v. R. W. Page Corp., 259 Ga. 556, 385 S.E.2d 406 (1989) (Act applies to the office of coroner). However, the code otherwise specifically forbids the release of any autopsy photographs or images by hospitals without written permission of the next of kin. O.C.G.A. § 45-16-27(d). But in closed criminal investigations a superior court may find that the public interest in disclosure outweighs any privacy interest asserted by the deceased’s next of kin and permit such photographs to be disclosed. Id.
Autopsy reports prepared by the Medical Examiner are public records. Honolulu Corp. Counsel Op. No. 61-25; see also Public Access to Ambulance Report Form Concerning a Deceased Individual, OIP Op. Ltr. No. 91-33 (Dec. 31, 1991) (stating that privacy interest applies only to living individuals and allowing access); Toxicology Reports, OIP Op. Ltr. No. F15-01 (Sept. 15, 2014) (finding that toxicology reports of deceased motorists were required to be disclosed upon request, in part because they are incorporated into autopsy reports). But see Welfare Records of Deceased Individual, OIP Op. Ltr. No. 90-26 (July 19, 1990) (holding that death does not extinguish confidentiality and limited disclosure pursuant to Haw. Rev. Stat. § 346-10 of welfare records); Disclosure of Autopsy Reports, OIP Op. Ltr. No. 91-32 (Dec. 31, 1991) (withholding access pending completion of law enforcement investigation).
Autopsy reports are not specifically exempted under the public records act. Generally, most county coroners treat them as available to the public. However, at least one law enforcement agency has taken the position that an autopsy record is a police investigatory record not available for public inspection.
Open if in connection with a coroner proceeding, but might be closed in connection with a pending criminal investigation under 5 ILCS 140/7(1)(d)(i); see Public Access Opinion 10-003 (available at http://foia.ilattorneygeneral.net/pdf/opinions/2010/2010-003.pdf). Post-mortem photographs may be exempt if release of those photographs would raise privacy concerns. An autopsy of a private citizen done by a public hospital would probably be exempt from disclosure under the personal privacy exemption or the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). See 5 ILCS 140/7(1)(c); 5 ILCS 140/7(1)(a); see also Trent v. Coroner of Peoria County, 349 Ill. App. 3d 276, 812 N.E. 2d 21, 285 Ill. Dec. 432 (3d District 2004).
In 2001, a mandatory exception was added to bar disclosure of “a photograph, a video recording, or an audio recording of an autopsy, except as provided in [Ind. Code §] 36-2-14-10.” Ind. Code § 5-14-3-4(a)(11). The same law also amended Indiana Code Section 36-2-14-10 to declare autopsy photographs, video recordings, or audio recordings confidential for the purposes of § 5-14-3-4(a)(1), except in certain instances involving a surviving spouse, a government agent acting in an official capacity, or a coroner using the materials for training or educational purposes. Ind. Code § 36-2-14-10(b)–(e); see also Ind. P.L. 271-2001, §§ 1, 3, 4 (enumerating permitted and prohibited disclosures of autopsy records under Ind. Code §§ 5-14-3-4(a)(1), 16-39-7.1 and 36-2-14-10). The identifying information must also be removed from the disclosed material. . Ind. Code § 36-2-14-10(b)–(e). “Identifying information” includes the deceased person’s name, address, Social Security number, a full view of the face, or identifying marks on the body that are unrelated to the medical condition or medical status. Ind. Code § 36-2-14-10(e)(1)-(5).
Notwithstanding these exceptions, and also notwithstanding the investigative records exception Section 5-14-3-4(b)(1), Indiana Code Section 36-2-14-18 requires that coroners must make certain information available, effectively mooting Althaus v. Evansville Courier Co., 615 N.E.2d 441, 446–47 (Ind. App. 1993), and Heltzel v. Thomas, 516 N.E.2d 103, 105–06 (Ind. App. 1987), which both held that the coroner’s office is a law enforcement agency, and the respective coroners did not act arbitrarily or capriciously in refusing to disclose autopsy reports.
A state medical examiner is created by Iowa Code § 691.5. A county medical examiner is created by Iowa Code § 331.801. Neither chapter 691 nor chapter 331 includes a provision governing accessibility to the examiner's report.
Iowa Code § 331.802 requires a county medical examiner to prepare a record of findings for submission to the state medical examiner and the county attorney. If the decedent is a child under the age of two, a copy of the findings is available to the child's parent, guardian or custodian, upon request.
Iowa Code § 691.6 requires the state medical examiner to keep complete records, but is silent as to the confidentiality of those records.
The reports generated by state medical examiners are probably subject to the provisions of chapter 22 governing availability of investigative reports. However, reports generated by county medical examiners are public records. Op. Att’y Gen., 1972 WL 262460 (Oct. 20, 1972) (noting a medical examiner’s report required by § 331.802 is not a confidential public record and may be examined by any citizen of Iowa); Op. Att’y Gen, 1961 WL 110128 (Oct. 27, 1961) (noting reports and records compiled and filed by the county medical examiner are public records which can be lawfully revealed to any interested party).
Coroner’s records are subject to disclosure under KORA. Burroughs v. Thomas, 937 P.2d 12 (Ct. App. Kan. 1997).
Autopsy reports open for public inspection. Kan. Att’y Gen. Op. 1986-05.
Autopsy and coroner's reports are generally available under the Open Records Act. In limited circumstances when premature release would impair an ongoing law enforcement action, such records may be withheld. See Ky. Rev. Stat. 61.878(1)(h). Autopsy photographs and similar materials may also be withheld, in certain circumstances, under the personal privacy exemption, Ky. Rev. Stat. 61.878(1)(a), based on the privacy interests of surviving family members. See 17-ORD-009; 05-ORD-075 ("proof that the subject of the autopsy photographs had no living close relatives, that his or her relatives had consented to disclosure of the photographs, or that his or her relatives had otherwise evinced a waiver of their privacy interests" would "almost certainly warrant a contrary holding").
La. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 13:5713 specifically identifies autopsy reports as public records, and further provides that "[t]he public records fee for . . . an autopsy report shall be the same as that charged by the registrar of vital records for the state for a death certificate." See also Everett v. Southern Transplant Service Inc., 709 So. 2d 764 (La. 1998) (reversing a Fourth Circuit decision holding that coroners' reports were not public records under the previous statute). Autopsy photos, video and visual images, however, are not public records. La. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 44:19(B). The Attorney General previously rendered an opinion that the autopsy record of a child is not public record if the child is under seven, or the child's death is connected with a criminal investigation. Op. Att'y Gen. 94-19. But the First Circuit has since ruled that autopsy reports of children under seven years are not exempt from disclosure unless the child died an "unexpected death" as defined by La. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 40:2019(B)(3): "a death which is a result of undiagnosed disease, or trauma in which the surrounding circumstances are suspicious, obscure, or otherwise unexplained," or SIDS. Bozeman v. Mack, 744 So. 2d 34 (La. App. 1st Cir. 1998) (holding that the autopsy report of a minor killed in a car accident was a public record because the circumstances of her death were not suspicious, obscure, or otherwise unexplained).
Coroners reports are public record even in cases involving commission of a crime. State v. Arnold, 466 So. 2d 520 (La. App. 3rd Cir. 1985), writ denied, 470 So. 2d 124 (La. 1985); State v. Williams, 438 So. 2d 1212 (La. App. 3rd Cir. 1983), writ denied, 443 So. 2d 590 (La. 1983); Op. Att'y Gen. 89-604. The Louisiana Supreme Court has reversed a Fourth Circuit decision which had held that coroner's reports were not public records. Everett v. Southern Transplant Service Inc., 709 So. 2d 764 (La. 1998). The records do not become public, however, until after the notification of the next of kin and upon final autopsy and investigation. See La. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 33:1563(K)(2)-(3); see also Op. Att'y Gen. 94-271. The “criminal investigation” exemption may apply. Op. Att’y Gen. 17-43.
These records are open pursuant to § 4-329. See also 63 Op. Att'y Gen. 659 (1978). However, photographs and other documents related to an autopsy are protected from disclosure. See PIA Manual, at 3-17.
Open. See, Swickard v. Wayne County Medical Examiner, 438 Mich. 536, 475 N.W.2d 304 (1991). There is no physician patient relationship at the time a physician performs an autopsy.
Open unless demands of individual privacy clearly exceed the merits of public disclosure. Clearly the decedent has no privacy interests in the autopsy records, so survivors have a significant burden to establish privacy rights that exceed disclosure.
No specific exception. Autopsy reports may not be public if the autopsy is performed as part of a law enforcement investigation. No statute directly addresses access to coroner’s reports. Some counties have taken the position that such reports are not public under the medical records exception and investigation exception.
Autopsy and coroners reports are likely public records. See The Las Vegas Review-Journal v. Dist. Ct. (Hartfield), 134 Nev. Adv. Op. 7 (Feb. 27, 2018).
Pursuant to RSA 611-A:8,III, autopsy reports are available only to the Department of Justice in situations involving homicide investigations. Autopsy reports are "confidential medical records which shall not be released without authorization of next-of-kin." RSA 611-A:8,IV.
Generally, cause-of-death information is confidential. See N.J.A.C. 8:2A-1.2. Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.1 any copy, reproduction or facsimile of any photograph, negative or print, including instant photograph and videotapes of the body, or any portion of the body, of a deceased person, taken by or for the medical examiner at the scene of death or in the course of a post mortem examination or autopsy made by or caused to be made by the medical examiner is specifically exempted from the definition of government record. New Jersey courts have permitted public access to autopsy reports and cause-of-death information on death certificates in limited circumstances under the common law. See Shuttleworth v. City of Camden, 258 N.J. Super. 573, 610 A.2d 985 (App. Div. 1992): Home News v. New Jersey Dept. of Health, 144 N.J. 446, 677 A.2d 195 (1996).
The Office of the Medical Investigator should make autopsy reports available to "anyone demonstrating a tangible and direct interest." NMSA 1978 § 24-14-28(A) (1987); see generally NMSA 1978 § 24-14-20 (2009), (Death registrations). There is no reported decision as to what constitutes a "tangible and direct interest."
Coroners Reports. Generally are not available. According to NMSA 1978 § 24-14-28(A), the state registrar shall provide copies to anyone "with a direct and tangible interest." Under New Mexico Law, the coroner means the district medical investigator. NMSA 1978 § 24-11-4. Death certificates are addressed under NMSA, 1978 § 24-11-6. See also NMSA 1978 § 24-14-20.
Reports of autopsies performed at the request of the medical examiner or other designated public officials are open pursuant to the Public records law and pursuant to North Carolina G. S. § 130a-389. Photographs and recordings (video and audio) created in connection with such autopsies are subject to review and inspection, but copies may be obtained only by district attorneys, law enforcement officials and superior court judges. G.S. § 130a-389.1. See also, G.S. § 132-1.8. Reports of private autopsies performed at the request of a family member are not public.
The office of coroner has been abolished in more than one-third of North Carolina’s counties. In those counties which retain the office, the coroner is required to file his reports of inquests and investigations with the county medical examiner and the district attorney. G.S. § 152-7. Subject to certain limitations on copies of photographs and recordings, records created by medical examiners are public records; therefore coroner’s reports are also public records.
An autopsy report and any working papers and notes relating to an autopsy report are confidential and may be disclosed only as permitted. See N.D.C.C. § 23-01-05.5. The report of death is a public record. N.D.C.C. § 23-01-05.5.
A report of death, an autopsy report, and any working papers, notes, images, pictures, photographs, or recordings of the medical county coroner in any form are confidential. N.D.C.C. § 11-19-11.
Portions of autopsy reports may be exempt as confidential law enforcement investigatory records during a criminal investigation; “Once the criminal investigation ends, CLEIR contained in autopsy reports may assume the status of public records and become available to the public.” State ex rel. Cincinnati Enquirer v. Pike Cty. Coroner's Office, 2017-Ohio-8988, ¶ 56, reconsideration denied sub nom. State ex rel. Cincinnati Enquirer v. Pike Cty. Coroner's Office, 2018-Ohio-1600, ¶ 56, and reconsideration denied sub nom. State ex rel. GateHouse Media Ohio Holdings II, Inc. v. Pike Cty. Coroner's Office, 2018-Ohio-1600, ¶ 56.
Coroner reports of suicides are public records. State ex rel. Findlay Publishing Co. v. Schroeder, 76 Ohio St. 3d 580, 669 N.E.2d 835 (1996).
A copy of the full and complete autopsy report, together with the findings of the person making the report, shall be withheld from public inspection and copying for ten business days following the date the report is generated by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. 63 O.S. § 945.D. The release of the autopsy report may be further delayed if al law enforcement agency declares that the report contains information that would materially compromise an ongoing criminal investigation. 63 O.S. § 945.G. Following the filing of the declaration, the law enforcement agency must file a request for an extension of time with a district court for hearing. Id.
At the same time the autopsy report is completed, the medical examiner must also provide a summary report of the investigation. 63 O.S. § 945.E. The summary report is a public record. Id.
ORS 192.345(36) (formerly ORS 192.501(36)) conditionally exempts from disclosure “a medical examiner’s report, autopsy report or laboratory test report ordered by a medical examiner under ORS 146.117.” These are open to family members or a personal representative of the deceased or to any person who may be criminally or civilly liable for the death; see ORS 146.035(S) regarding death records. In addition, deadly weapon and injury reports made under ORS 146.750 are confidential under ORS 146.780.
No specific exemption; however, presumably closed because of R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 23-3-1 and 23-3-23, which, when read in conjunction provides that it shall be unlawful for any person to permit inspection of or disclose information in records concerning “death” and “data related thereto” unless authorized. R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 23-3-1 and 23-3-23.
Arguably these are open once arrest is made following inquest. SDCL §23-14-12. Although coroners must file reports and inquest verdicts with bureau of criminal statistics, in the bureau’s hands, those records are not public. SDCL §§23-6-14 and 23-6-17. See also SDCL §1-27-1.5 (4). Autopsy performed by order of department of labor in worker’s compensation occupational disease death claim case is public record. SDCL § 2-8-41. University of South Dakota medical school must keep record of bodies received. SDCL §34-26-9. Physician or coroner fetal death report filed with department of health. SDCL §34-25-32.2.
Coroner’s report should be open when in coroner’s possession. In hands of law enforcement could be exempt. SDCL §1-27-1.5(5). When report is “return[ed] to circuit court” it would be covered by Unified Judicial System rules and not open records law. SDCL §§23-14-16 and 1-27-1.12.
Presumably open, however, medical examiners will not release these records if they are a part of an active law enforcement investigation.
Autopsy reports are subject to required public disclosure unless one of the Act’s exceptions applies. Tex. Att’y Gen. ORD-7790 (2004). However, the release of a “provisional autopsy report” prepared in connection with a request by a justice of the peace is not required to be released but may be made available for inspection by the public. Tex. Atty. Gen. Op. JC-0422 (2001).
Copies of all autopsy reports, findings, and records gathered or compiled in the investigation of a death may be obtained by the decedent’s next-of-kin, legal representative, or physicians who attended the decedent during the year before death upon written request for release of such documents by the medical examiner. In addition, the county attorney, the district attorney, the attorney general, or other law enforcement officials having jurisdiction may, upon written request, secure copies of the original records where necessary for the performance of their duties. Otherwise, the medical examiner shall maintain the confidentiality of the records. See Utah Code § 26-4-17.
1. Medical examiner records are confidential and may be released to such authorized persons as the county attorney, the attorney general, the decedent’s next of kin, a legal representative, physicians, etc. See Utah Code § 26-4-17.
2. Medical examiners’ reports are admissible as evidence at civil trials. See id. § 26-4-18. To the extent that a report is used at trial, that report is generally open to the public.
Autopsies performed by or at the direction of the Chief Medical Examiner are not considered a public record pursuant to 1 V.S.A. § 317. 18 V.S.A. § 5205(g). Autopsies remain confidential and beyond the scope of public records requests even if those reports are provided to the Department of Corrections or the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Commission. 18 V.S.A. § 5205(g); 15 V.S.A. § 1140(d).
Va. Code Ann. § 32.1-285 requires filing of all autopsy reports with the Chief Medical Examiner, with copies to the judge or Commonwealth's Attorney requesting the report. The Chief Medical Examiner may release such reports to the appropriate Commonwealths' Attorney or law enforcement agency investigating the death. Confidential records and information obtained from private and public entities and provided to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner during the course of a death investigation shall remain confidential and shall not be subject to the provisions of the Act. Va. Code Ann. § 32.1-283.4(A).
Autopsy reports are confidential under RCW 68.50.105.
It could be argued that autopsy reports and records of the state medical examiner could fall within the "personal information" exemption of the FOIA, and thus be subject to the Cline balancing test. See 51 W. Va. Op. Atty. Gen. 606 (W. Va. A.G.), 1965 WL 92501 (Attorney General Opinion suggests appropriateness of balancing test). Based upon other decisions, it is possible that the Supreme Court of Appeals might recognize some degree of privacy protection even for records of deceased persons. See Jeffery v. McHugh, 166 W. Va. 379, 273 S.E.2d 837 (1980) (upholding the confidentiality of juvenile court records, specifically exempt from disclosure under W. Va. Code § 49-7-1, even though the juvenile involved had died). However, the fact that autopsy reports would not directly affect the privacy rights of any living person undoubtedly would be important in the Cline balancing process. Child Protection Group v Cline, 350 S.E.2d at 545 (1986). Autopsy and other records of the medical examiner should be disclosed to the family representative of a deceased person as a matter of right under FOIA.
While West Virginia Code § 61-12-10 suggests limited availability of autopsy records it does not explicitly exempt such records from public scrutiny. It is likely that courts would view autopsy and related records as subject to FOIA disclosure but would analyze each FOIA request to determine the extent to which disclosure might be limited by West Virginia Code § 29B-1-4(2) (“Information of a personal nature such as that kept in a personal, medical or similar file, if the public disclosure thereof would constitute an unreasonable invasion of privacy . . .”). As noted above, where such information is of such a personal nature, disclosure depends on a balancing test that weighs privacy and public interests. Child Protection Group v. Cline, 177 W. Va. 29, 350 S.E.2d 541(1986).
Medical examiners’ reports would most likely be treated the same as autopsy reports, i.e., they may fall within the "personal information" exemption of the FOIA and thus be subject to the Cline balancing test, with some degree of privacy protection for the records of deceased persons. See Jeffery v. McHugh, 166 W. Va. 379, 273 S.E.2d 837 (1980) (upholding the confidentiality of juvenile court records, which were specifically exempt from disclosure under West Virginia Code § 49-7-1, even though the juvenile involved had died).
The Fatality and Mortality Review Team oversees and coordinates the examination, review and assessment of deaths resulting from drug overdoses or possible domestic violence, as well as the deaths of minor children and infants and mothers “who die during pregnancy, at the time of birth or within one year of the birth of a child.” W. Va. Code § 61-12A-1. “Proceedings, records and opinions of the Fatality and Mortality Review Team and the advisory panels established by the team are exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act[.]” Id.
Pursuant to amendments adopted in 2011, only the coroner's verdict is open. The verdict must contain any relevant toxicology information. Wyo. Stat. § 16-4-203(d)(I). For good cause, a petitioner may ask the Court to allow public access to the complete autopsy reports.

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