reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
63 OK Stat § 63-935.1 (2021)
2021 Oklahoma Statutes|Title 63. Public Health and Safety|§63-935.1. Office of the State Medical Examiner relocation

|The Office of the State Medical Examiner and the Board of Medicolegal Investigations are authorized to relocate the Office of the State Medical Examiner to a location determined by the Board as provided by law. |Added by Laws 2010, c. 329, § 1, emerg. eff. June 6, 2010. Amended by Laws 2015, c. 85, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 2015; Laws 2016, c. 94, § 1, emerg. eff. Apr. 19, 2016.
63 OK Stat § 63-936 (2021)
2021 Oklahoma Statutes|Title 63. Public Health and Safety|§63-936. Office and laboratory.

|The Board shall provide for a central and eastern office and shall see that there is maintained a laboratory suitably equipped with facilities for performance of the duties imposed by Section 931 et seq. of this title. |Added by Laws 1961, p. 605, § 6, eff. Jan. 2, 1962. Amended by Laws 1972, c. 246, § 5, emerg. eff. April 7, 1972; Laws 2014, c. 293, § 4, eff. Nov. 1, 2014; Laws 2015, c. 85, § 3, eff. Nov. 1, 2015.
63 OK Stat § 63-937 (2021)
2021 Oklahoma Statutes|Title 63. Public Health and Safety|§63-937. Appointment and qualifications of county medical examiners.

|The Chief Medical Examiner shall appoint medical examiners for the state. Each medical examiner so appointed shall be a Doctor of Medicine or Osteopathic Medicine, shall hold a valid board certification to practice forensic pathology in Oklahoma, and shall hold office at the pleasure of the Chief Medical Examiner. The Chief Medical Examiner shall appoint a Deputy Chief Medical Examiner to serve in the capacity of the Chief Medical Examiner in the event the Chief Medical Examiner is absent, ill, or disqualified by personal interest. |Added by Laws 1961, p. 605, § 7, eff. Jan. 2, 1962. Amended by Laws 1963, c. 302, § 1, emerg. eff. June 19, 1963; Laws 1965, c. 258, § 1, emerg. eff. June 21, 1965; Laws 1972, c. 246, § 6, emerg. eff. April 7, 1972; Laws 2014, c. 293, § 5, eff. Nov. 1, 2014; Laws 2015, c. 85, § 4, eff. Nov. 1, 2015.
63 OK Stat § 63-938 (2021)
2021 Oklahoma Statutes|Title 63. Public Health and Safety|§63-938. Types of deaths to be investigated - Autopsies.

|A. All human deaths of the types listed herein shall be investigated as provided by law: |1. Violent deaths, whether apparently homicidal, suicidal, or accidental;2. Deaths under suspicious, unusual or unnatural circumstances;3. Deaths related to disease which might constitute a threat to public health;4. Deaths unattended by a licensed physician for a fatal or potentially-fatal illness;5. Deaths that are medically unexpected and that occur in the course of a therapeutic procedure;6. Deaths of any persons detained or occurring in custody of penal incarceration; and7. Deaths of persons whose bodies are to be cremated, transported out of the state, donated to educational entities, to include limited portions of the body, or otherwise made ultimately unavailable for pathological study.B. The Chief Medical Examiner shall state on the certificate of death of all persons whose death was caused by execution pursuant to a lawful court order that the cause of death was the execution of such order.Added by Laws 1961, p. 605, § 8, eff. Jan. 2, 1962. Amended by Laws 1963, c. 302, § 2, emerg. eff. June 19, 1963; Laws 1972, c. 246, § 7, emerg. eff. April 7, 1972; Laws 2000, c. 161, § 1, eff. July 1, 2000; Laws 2014, c. 293, § 6, eff. Nov. 1, 2014.
63 OK Stat § 63-939 (2021)
2021 Oklahoma Statutes|Title 63. Public Health and Safety|§63-939. Production of records, documents, evidence or other material.

|Except as otherwise provided by law, the Chief Medical Examiner shall produce records, documents, evidence or other material of any nature only upon the order of a court of competent jurisdiction. An interested party or litigant in a civil or criminal action may make application for an order to produce such materials. The court, after notice to all parties, including the Chief Medical Examiner, and a hearing on the application, may, upon the showing of good cause, direct the release of a copy or any part of such material. In addition, the court may also direct the payment of reasonable costs by the requesting party for the production of the material. The production of such material shall take place at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner unless, upon a showing of good cause, specifically ordered otherwise by the court. |Added by Laws 1961, p. 606, § 9, eff. Jan. 2, 1962. Amended by Laws 1972, c. 246, § 8, emerg. eff. April 7, 1972; Laws 1996, c. 234, § 3, eff. July 1, 1996; Laws 2014, c. 293, § 7, eff. Nov. 1, 2014.
63 OK Stat § 63-940 (2021)
2021 Oklahoma Statutes|Title 63. Public Health and Safety|§63-940. Cooperation of state and county officials - Notification of deaths.

|A. All law enforcement officers and other state and county officials shall cooperate with the Chief Medical Examiner and all other medical examiners in making investigations required pursuant to the provisions of Sections 931 through 954 of this title. Said officials and the physician in attendance of the deceased, or other persons when the deceased was unattended by a physician, shall promptly notify the medical examiner of the occurrence of all deaths coming to their attention which, pursuant to the provisions of Sections 931 through 954 of this title, are subject to investigation, and shall assist in making dead bodies and related evidence available for investigation. |Subject to the provisions of Sections 931 through 954 of this title, bodies shall not be disturbed until authorized by the Chief Medical Examiner or his or her designee and the representative of any law enforcement agency which has begun an investigation of the cause of death. Said authorization may be given by telephone. Nothing in Sections 931 through 954 of this title shall prevent the district attorney or his or her designee from authorizing the removal of a body when the removal is determined to be in the public interest and conditions at the scene are adequately documented and preserved by photographs and measurements.B. The death of any patient, inmate, ward, or veteran in a state hospital or other institution shall be reported by the chief administrative officer of the hospital or institution or his or her designee to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner at the time of the death and prior to release of the body.1. Within thirty-six (36) hours, a written report shall be submitted and shall be accompanied by true and correct copies of all medical records of the hospital or institution concerning the deceased patient.2. The Chief Medical Examiner shall have the authority to require production of any records, documents, or equipment or other items regarding the deceased patient deemed necessary to investigate the death.Added by Laws 1961, p. 606, § 10, eff. Jan. 2, 1962. Amended by Laws 1972, c. 246, § 9, emerg. eff. April 7, 1972; Laws 1978, c. 114, § 1, emerg. eff. March 31, 1978; Laws 1980, c. 178, § 1, emerg. eff. May 14, 1980; Laws 1984, c. 36, § 1, emerg. eff. March 28, 1984; Laws 1988, c. 326, § 34, emerg. eff. July 13, 1988; Laws 2014, c. 293, § 8, eff. Nov. 1, 2014.
63 OK Stat § 63-940a (2021)
2021 Oklahoma Statutes|Title 63. Public Health and Safety|§63-940a. Liability for removal of body.

|No funeral establishment or its employees shall be liable for the action, per se, of removing a body when ordered to do so by any public official having the authority to order such removal. |Added by Laws 1999, c. 188, § 1, emerg. eff. May 21, 1999.
63 OK Stat § 63-941 (2021)
2021 Oklahoma Statutes|Title 63. Public Health and Safety|§63-941. Investigation by county examiner.

|Upon receipt of notice of death of any person which under Section 931 et seq. of this title is subject to investigation, a representative Death Investigator from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner shall immediately initiate an investigation and shall document in detail, by the end of his or her assigned shift, all the known and available facts of the death scene in the electronic database of the Chief Medical Examiner. Decedent specimens, evidence, and photographs shall be sent to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. The investigating official of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner may take charge of any object or writing found on or near the body which is deemed necessary for the purpose of establishing the cause and/or manner of death. |Upon conclusion of the investigation and determination that such objects or writings are no longer needed as evidence, the medical examiner or the medical examiner's designee may deliver them to the district attorney, law enforcement agency, or family for disposition.The investigating medical examiner or the medical examiner's designee shall have access at all times to any and all medical and dental records and history of the deceased, including, but not limited to, radiographs and medical records, in the course of his or her official investigation to determine the cause and manner of death. Such records may not be released to any other person by the medical examiner, and the custodians of such records shall incur no liability by reason of the release of such records to the medical examiner. The body of the deceased shall be turned over to the funeral director designated by the person responsible for burial within twenty-four (24) hours of receipt of the decedent unless a longer period is necessary to complete the required investigation.Added by Laws 1961, p. 606, § 11, eff. Jan. 2, 1962. Amended by Laws 1972, c. 246, § 10, emerg. eff. April 7, 1972; Laws 2014, c. 293, § 9, eff. Nov. 1, 2014; Laws 2015, c. 85, § 5, eff. Nov. 1, 2015.
63 OK Stat § 63-941a (2021)
2021 Oklahoma Statutes|Title 63. Public Health and Safety|§63-941a. Custody of the body.

|Upon completion of an investigation by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, the body of the deceased shall be released to the person legally entitled to the custody thereof, or his or her representative, unless: |1. A release is signed by the person legally entitled to the custody of the body; or2. The attending physician has notified the Chief Medical Examiner of the State of Oklahoma, or his or her designee, of the need for further investigation into the cause of death, or has notified the appropriate district attorney of such need; or3. The laws of this state or the regulations of the Board of Medicolegal Investigations require additional information or examination that cannot be obtained or completed within the above period of time.Added by Laws 1975, c. 174, § 1. Amended by Laws 2014, c. 293, § 10, eff. Nov. 1, 2014; Laws 2015, c. 85, § 6, eff. Nov. 1, 2015.
63 OK Stat § 63-941b (2021)
2021 Oklahoma Statutes|Title 63. Public Health and Safety|§63-941b. Condition of the body.

|When attending a patient at time of death, physicians shall take care that the remains of the deceased are left in such a state that will not hinder or unnecessarily complicate the preparation for burial or other disposition, provided that nothing herein shall interfere with or restrict a physician's sworn duty to do all things necessary to save the patient's life. |Added by Laws 1975, c. 174, § 2. Amended by Laws 2015, c. 85, § 7, eff. Nov. 1, 2015.
63 OK Stat § 63-942 (2021)
2021 Oklahoma Statutes|Title 63. Public Health and Safety|§63-942. Report of findings.

|A. 1. Upon completion of an investigation, the medical examiner shall reduce his or her findings to writing upon the form supplied to the medical examiner which shall be promptly sent to the Chief Medical Examiner by mail. |2. If the medical examiner finds that the deceased had illicit, prescription or nonprescription drugs in his or her system at the time of death, the medical examiner shall document in his or her findings if the death was:a.a natural or accidental death with drug involvement,b.a homicide by drugs,c.a suicide by drug overdose, ord.a death with drug involvement, but the manner of death could not be determined.3. A fatality shall not be considered a drug-related death unless the medical examiner determines that the drug or drugs present in the deceased materially contributed to the death.B. Copies of reports shall be furnished by the Chief Medical Examiner to investigating agencies having official interest therein. Copies of reports shall also be furnished to the spouse of the deceased or any person within one degree of consanguinity of the deceased upon request and within five (5) business days of the request once the cause and manner of death have been determined and the death certificate has been issued.Added by Laws 1961, p. 606, § 12, eff. Jan. 2, 1962. Amended by Laws 1963, c. 302, § 3, emerg. eff. June 19, 1963; Laws 1972, c. 246, § 11, emerg. eff. April 7, 1972; Laws 2011, c. 344, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 2011; Laws 2014, c. 293, § 11, eff. Nov. 1, 2014.
63 OK Stat § 63-942a (2021)
2021 Oklahoma Statutes|Title 63. Public Health and Safety|§63-942a. Appeal of medical examiner's findings.

|A. The next of kin of the deceased may appeal the findings of the medical examiner to the district court of Oklahoma County under a petition for judicial review within two (2) years from the completion of the report. Such appeal shall be made in writing, shall state the nature and reasons for the appeal, and shall be supported by affidavit. The burden of proof shall be on the petitioner to establish by a preponderance of the evidence that the death certificate is in error. The petitioner shall notify the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in writing upon filing the petition for judicial review. No jury shall be impaneled and no monetary damages shall be awarded under a cause of action filed pursuant to this subsection. |B. The court shall conduct an evidentiary hearing. Should the court find that the findings of the medical examiner are erroneous, the court shall immediately order the Chief Medical Examiner to correct the report and transmit the appropriate paperwork to the State Department of Health for the correction of the death certificate.Added by Laws 2011, c. 344, § 3, eff. Nov. 1, 2011. Amended by Laws 2014, c. 293, § 12, eff. Nov. 1, 2014.
63 OK Stat § 63-944 (2021)
2021 Oklahoma Statutes|Title 63. Public Health and Safety|§63-944. Autopsy - Public interest - Collection of specimens.

|When necessary in connection with an investigation to determine the cause and/or manner of death and when the public interest requires it, the Chief Medical Examiner, his or her designee or a district attorney shall require and authorize an autopsy to be conducted. In determining whether the public interest requires an autopsy the medical examiner or district attorney involved shall take into account but shall not be bound by request therefor from private persons or from other public officials. |The medical examiner or his or her designee may collect and retain such blood, tissue, bone, fluid or body waste specimens as are deemed necessary to carry out his or her duties as specified in Section 931 et seq. of this title. No autopsy authorization shall be required as a prerequisite to the collection of such specimens.Added by Laws 1961, p. 606, § 14, eff. Jan. 2, 1962. Amended by Laws 1965, c. 258, § 2, emerg. eff. June 21, 1965; Laws 1968, c. 182, § 1; Laws 1972, c. 246, § 13, emerg. eff. April 7, 1972; Laws 2014, c. 293, § 13, eff. Nov. 1, 2014; Laws 2015, c. 85, § 8, eff. Nov. 1, 2015.
63 OK Stat § 63-944.2 (2021)
2021 Oklahoma Statutes|Title 63. Public Health and Safety|§63-944.2. Unconstitutional.

|NOTE: Editorially renumbered from § 944.1 to avoid a duplication in numbering. |NOTE: Section, derived from Laws 1985, c. 245, § 3, mandating sharing of costs of operation by requiring a fee for autopsies performed by State Medical Examiner, declared unconstitutional by State ex rel, Jordan v. City of Bethany, Okl., 769 P.2d 164(1989).
63 OK Stat § 63-946 (2021)
2021 Oklahoma Statutes|Title 63. Public Health and Safety|§63-946. Exhuming of bodies - Hearing - Autopsy - Reports.

|A. If death occurred under circumstances as enumerated in Section 938 of this title, and if the body has been buried without proper certification of death, it shall be the duty of the investigating official, upon ascertaining such facts, to notify the Chief Medical Examiner and the district attorney of the county in which the body was buried. The district attorney shall present facts to the judge of the district court of that county, and the judge, after a hearing, may by written order require the body to be exhumed and an autopsy performed by the Chief Medical Examiner or his or her designee. A copy of the court order for exhumation shall be provided to the State Department of Health. A complete report of the facts developed by the autopsy and the findings of the person making the same shall be filed with the Chief Medical Examiner without unnecessary delay and a copy furnished the district attorney of the county within which the death occurred or within which the body was buried, or both. |B. No order for exhumation, as provided for in subsection A of this section, shall be made without notice of the hearing being served upon the decedent's next of kin, five (5) days prior to the hearing. The notice shall be served in the same manner as provided for by law for the service of summons in a civil action, shall include the date, time and place of the hearing and shall advise the person so notified that he or she has the right to appear and be heard by the court at that time. Provided, that the district attorney may, by affidavit, advise the court that the identity or whereabouts of any persons required to be served with notice under this subsection is unknown and cannot be ascertained with due diligence. Upon finding that the facts stated in the affidavit are true, the court shall not require notice be given.Added by Laws 1961, p. 607, § 16, eff. Jan. 2, 1962. Amended by Laws 1972, c. 246, § 15, emerg. eff. April 7, 1972; Laws 1981, c. 87, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 1981; Laws 2011, c. 105, § 37, eff. Nov. 1, 2011; Laws 2014, c. 293, § 15, eff. Nov. 1, 2014.
63 OK Stat § 63-947 (2021)
2021 Oklahoma Statutes|Title 63. Public Health and Safety|§63-947. Certificate of death.

|A. The certification of death of any person whose death is investigated under Section 931 et seq. of this title shall be made by the Chief Medical Examiner or his or her designee upon a medical examiner death certificate provided by the State Registrar of Vital Statistics. Such death certificates shall be valid only when signed by the Chief Medical Examiner or his or her designee. Copies of all such certificates shall be forwarded immediately upon receipt by the State Registrar of Vital Statistics to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. |B. Any certification of death by an attending physician may be referred by the State Registrar of Vital Statistics to the Chief Medical Examiner for investigation and the amending of the original certificate of death by the filing of a medical examiner death certificate by the Chief Medical Examiner or his or her designee when the death is determined by the Chief Medical Examiner to be one properly requiring investigation under Section 938 of this title.C. Medical examiner death certificates will not be required in cases investigated solely for the purpose of issuing a permit for transport of a body out of state.Added by Laws 1961, p. 607, § 17, eff. Jan. 2, 1962. Amended by Laws 1972, c. 246, § 16, emerg. eff. April 7, 1972; Laws 1989, c. 163, § 1, emerg. eff. May 8, 1989; Laws 2014, c. 293, § 16, eff. Nov. 1, 2014.
63 OK Stat § 63-948 (2021)
2021 Oklahoma Statutes|Title 63. Public Health and Safety|§63-948. Storage of biological specimens - Storage fees - Drug screens.

|A. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) shall store biological specimens in the control of the OCME for the potential purpose of independent analyses in matters of civil law, only upon receipt of a written request for such storage and payment of a storage fee. The fee shall be paid by the person requesting storage to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. The Board shall promulgate rules establishing a fee for storage of such biological specimens which shall not exceed One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) per year for a period of time not to exceed five (5) years. All fees collected pursuant to the provisions of this subsection shall be deposited to the credit of the Chief Medical Examiner Revolving Fund. |B. 1. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) is authorized to perform drug screens on specimens in the custody of the OCME, provided the request is made by an agency or party authorized to receive such information. The OCME may limit drug screens within the technical and physical capabilities of the OCME.2. The authorization for drug screens shall apply only to specimens from cases already within the jurisdiction of the OCME and only when the analyses are deemed by the Chief Medical Examiner or Deputy Chief Medical Examiner not to conflict with any investigation of the case by the state.3. The Board of Medicolegal Investigations shall establish a fee for drug screen services by rule. All fees collected pursuant to the provisions of this subsection shall be deposited to the Chief Medical Examiner Revolving Fund.Added by Laws 1961, p. 607, § 18, eff. Jan. 2, 1962. Amended by Laws 1963, c. 302, § 4, emerg. eff. June 19, 1963; Laws 1968, c. 182, § 2; Laws 1972, c. 246, § 17, emerg. eff. April 7, 1972; Laws 1996, c. 234, § 4, eff. July 1, 1996; Laws 2004, c. 559, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2004; Laws 2014, c. 293, § 17, eff. Nov. 1, 2014; Laws 2017, c. 343, § 2.
63 OK Stat § 63-951 (2021)
2021 Oklahoma Statutes|Title 63. Public Health and Safety|§63-951. Transporting of bodies for autopsy or scientific tests.

|The Chief Medical Examiner shall maintain a contract transport service authorized to transport bodies of deceased persons of whose death he or she is officially informed to an appropriate place for autopsy or for the performance of scientific tests; provided that, after the autopsy shall have been performed or such tests made, the bodies of such deceased persons shall be returned to the county from which they were brought, or, when so authorized by the district attorney of the county and upon request of the nearest relative of the deceased or other person who may be responsible for burial, the body may be transported to some place other than the county. The Chief Medical Examiner or his or her designee may authorize payment for the services in transporting the body to the place designated for autopsy, which shall be submitted upon a claim filed with the Board of Medicolegal Investigations. |Added by Laws 1961, p. 608, § 21, eff. Jan. 2, 1962. Amended by Laws 1963, c. 302, § 6, emerg. eff. June 19, 1963; Laws 1972, c. 246, § 20, emerg. eff. April 7, 1972; Laws 2014, c. 293, § 20, eff. Nov. 1, 2014.
63 OK Stat § 63-952 (2021)
2021 Oklahoma Statutes|Title 63. Public Health and Safety|§63-952. Persons excluded from serving as examiners or deputies.

|It is specifically provided that no embalmer, funeral director, or employee of a funeral home shall be employed in any capacity with the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, nor shall any member of law enforcement including but not limited to peace officers, deputy sheriffs, and reserve deputies. |Added by Laws 1961, p. 608, § 22, eff. Jan. 2, 1962. Amended by Laws 2014, c. 293, § 21, eff. Nov. 1, 2014.
63 OK Stat § 63-953 (2021)
2021 Oklahoma Statutes|Title 63. Public Health and Safety|§63-953. Penalties.

|Any person who willfully fails to comply with the provisions of this act shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction shall be fined not to exceed Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), or by imprisonment in the county jail for a term not to exceed thirty (30) days, or by both such fine and imprisonment. |Laws 1961, p. 608, § 23.