reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
NC Gen Stat § 130A-374 (2021)
2021 North Carolina General Statutes|Chapter 130A - Public Health|Article 15 - State Center for Health Statistics.|§ 130A-374 - Security of health data.

 130A-374. Security of health data.(a) Medical records of individual patients shall be confidential and shall not be public records open to inspection. The State Center for Health Statistics may disclose medical records of individual patients which identify the individual described in the record only if:(1) The individual described in the medical record has authorized the disclosure; or(2) The disclosure is for bona fide research purposes. The Commission shall adopt rules providing for the use of the medical records for research purposes.(b) The State Center for Health Statistics shall take appropriate measures to protect the security of health data collected by the Center, including:(1) Limiting the access to health data to authorized individuals who have received training in the handling of this data;(2) Designating a person to be responsible for physical security; and(3) Developing and implementing a system for monitoring security. (1983, c. 891, s. 2.)
NC Gen Stat § 130A-377 (2021)
2021 North Carolina General Statutes|Chapter 130A - Public Health|Article 16 - Postmortem Investigation and Disposition.|§ 130A-377 - Establishment and maintenance of central and district offices.

 130A-377. Establishment and maintenance of central and district offices.The Department shall establish and maintain a central office with appropriate facilities and personnel for postmortem medicolegal examinations. District offices, with appropriate facilities and personnel, may also be established and maintained if considered necessary by the Department for the proper management of postmortem examinations. (1955, c. 972, s. 1; 1957, c. 1357, s. 1; 1967, c. 1154, s. 1; 1973, c. 476, s. 128; 1983, c. 891, s. 2.)
NC Gen Stat § 130A-378 (2021)
2021 North Carolina General Statutes|Chapter 130A - Public Health|Article 16 - Postmortem Investigation and Disposition.|§ 130A-378 - Qualifications and appointment of the Chief Medical Examiner.

 130A-378. Qualifications and appointment of the Chief Medical Examiner.The Chief Medical Examiner shall be a forensic pathologist certified by the American Board of Pathology and licensed to practice medicine. The Chief Medical Examiner shall be appointed by the Secretary. (1983, c. 891, s. 2.)
NC Gen Stat § 130A-379 (2021)
2021 North Carolina General Statutes|Chapter 130A - Public Health|Article 16 - Postmortem Investigation and Disposition.|§ 130A-379 - Duties of the Chief Medical Examiner.

 130A-379. Duties of the Chief Medical Examiner.The Chief Medical Examiner shall perform postmortem medicolegal examinations as provided in this Part. The Chief Medical Examiner may, upon request, provide instruction in health science, legal medicine and other subjects related to his duties at The University of North Carolina, the North Carolina Justice Academy and other institutions of higher learning. (1983, c. 891, s. 2.)
NC Gen Stat § 130A-380 (2021)
2021 North Carolina General Statutes|Chapter 130A - Public Health|Article 16 - Postmortem Investigation and Disposition.|§ 130A-380 - The Chief Medical Examiner's staff.

 130A-380. The Chief Medical Examiner's staff.The Chief Medical Examiner may employ qualified pathologists to serve as Associate and Assistant Medical Examiners in the central and district offices. The Associate and Assistant Medical Examiners shall perform duties assigned by the Chief Medical Examiner. Forensic chemists may be employed by the Chief Medical Examiner to provide toxicological and related support. (1983, c. 891, s. 2.)
NC Gen Stat § 130A-381 (2021)
2021 North Carolina General Statutes|Chapter 130A - Public Health|Article 16 - Postmortem Investigation and Disposition.|§ 130A-381 - Additional services and facilities.

 130A-381. Additional services and facilities.In order to provide proper facilities for investigating deaths as authorized in this Part, the Chief Medical Examiner may arrange for the use of existing public or private laboratory facilities. Each county shall provide or contract for an appropriate facility for the examination and storage of bodies under Medical Examiner jurisdiction. The Chief Medical Examiner may contract with qualified persons to perform or to provide support services for autopsies and other studies and investigations. (1967, c. 1154, s. 1; 1973, c. 476, s. 128; 1983, c. 891, s. 2; 2007-187, s. 5.)
NC Gen Stat § 130A-382 (2021)
2021 North Carolina General Statutes|Chapter 130A - Public Health|Article 16 - Postmortem Investigation and Disposition.|§ 130A-382 - County medical examiners; appointment; term of office; vacancies; training requirements; revocation for cause.

 130A-382. County medical examiners; appointment; term of office; vacancies; training requirements; revocation for cause.(a) The Chief Medical Examiner shall appoint two or more county medical examiners for each county for a three-year term. In appointing medical examiners for each county, the Chief Medical Examiner shall give preference to physicians licensed to practice medicine in this State but may also appoint licensed physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, or emergency medical technician paramedics. A medical examiner may serve more than one county. The Chief Medical Examiner may take jurisdiction in any case or appoint another medical examiner to do so.(b) County medical examiners shall complete continuing education training as directed by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and based upon established and published guidelines for conducting death investigations. The continuing education training shall include training regarding sudden unexpected death in epilepsy. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner shall annually update and publish these guidelines on its Internet Web site. Newly appointed county medical examiners shall complete mandatory orientation training as directed by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner within 90 days of their appointment.(c) The Chief Medical Examiner may revoke a county medical examiner's appointment for failure to adequately perform the duties of the office after providing the county medical examiner with written notice of the basis for the revocation and an opportunity to respond.  (1955, c. 972, s. 1; 1957, c. 1357, s. 1; 1963, c. 492, s. 4; 1967, c. 1154, s. 1; 1973, c. 476, s. 128; 1981, c. 187, ss. 2-4; 1983, c. 891, s. 2; 2007-187, s. 4; 2014-100, s. 12E.6(a); 2015-211, s. 1.)
NC Gen Stat § 130A-383 (2021)
2021 North Carolina General Statutes|Chapter 130A - Public Health|Article 16 - Postmortem Investigation and Disposition.|§ 130A-383 - Medical examiner jurisdiction.

 130A-383. Medical examiner jurisdiction.(a) Upon the death of any person resulting from violence, poisoning, accident, suicide or homicide; occurring suddenly when the deceased had been in apparent good health or when unattended by a physician; occurring in a jail, prison, correctional institution or in police custody; occurring in State facilities operated in accordance with Part 5 of Article 4 of Chapter 122C of the General Statutes; occurring pursuant to Article 19 of Chapter 15 of the General Statutes; or occurring under any suspicious, unusual or unnatural circumstance, the medical examiner of the county in which the body of the deceased is found shall be notified by a physician in attendance, hospital employee, law-enforcement officer, funeral home employee, emergency medical technician, relative or by any other person having suspicion of such a death. No person shall disturb the body at the scene of such a death until authorized by the medical examiner unless in the unavailability of the medical examiner it is determined by the appropriate law enforcement agency that the presence of the body at the scene would risk the integrity of the body or provide a hazard to the safety of others. For the limited purposes of this Part, expression of opinion that death has occurred may be made by a nurse, an emergency medical technician or any other competent person in the absence of a physician.(b) The discovery of anatomical material suspected of being part of a human body shall be reported to the medical examiner of the county in which the material is found.(c) Upon completion of the investigation and in accordance with the rules of the Commission, the medical examiner shall release the body to the next of kin or other interested person who will assume responsibility for final disposition.  (1955, c. 972, s. 1; 1957, c. 1357, s. 1; 1963, c. 492, s. 4; 1967, c. 1154, s. 1; 1983, c. 891, s. 2; 1989, c. 353, s. 1; 2008-131, s. 2.)
NC Gen Stat § 130A-384 (2021)
2021 North Carolina General Statutes|Chapter 130A - Public Health|Article 16 - Postmortem Investigation and Disposition.|§ 130A-384 - Notification concerning out-of-state body.

 130A-384. Notification concerning out-of-state body.When a body is brought into this State for disposal and there is reason to believe either that the death was not investigated properly or that there is not an adequate certificate of death, the body shall be reported to a medical examiner in the county where the body resides or to the Chief Medical Examiner. These deaths may be investigated by the same procedure as deaths occurring in this State under G.S. 130A-383. (1983, c. 891, s. 2.)
NC Gen Stat § 130A-386 (2021)
2021 North Carolina General Statutes|Chapter 130A - Public Health|Article 16 - Postmortem Investigation and Disposition.|§ 130A-386 - Subpoena authority.

 130A-386. Subpoena authority.The Chief Medical Examiner and the county medical examiners are authorized to issue subpoenas for the attendance of persons and for the production of documents as may be required by their investigation. (1983, c. 891, s. 2.)
NC Gen Stat § 130A-387 (2021)
2021 North Carolina General Statutes|Chapter 130A - Public Health|Article 16 - Postmortem Investigation and Disposition.|§ 130A-387 - Fees.

 130A-387. Fees.For each investigation and prompt filing of the required report, the medical examiner shall receive a fee paid by the State. However, if the deceased is a resident of the county in which the death or fatal injury occurred, that county shall pay the fee. The fee shall be two hundred dollars ($200.00).  (1983, c. 891, s. 2; 1991, c. 463, s. 1; 2005-368, s. 1; 2015-241, s. 12E.6(a).)
NC Gen Stat § 130A-388 (2021)
2021 North Carolina General Statutes|Chapter 130A - Public Health|Article 16 - Postmortem Investigation and Disposition.|§ 130A-388 - Medical examiner's permission necessary before embalming, burial and cremation.

 130A-388. Medical examiner's permission necessary before embalming, burial and cremation.(a) No person knowing or having reason to know that a death may be under the jurisdiction of the medical examiner pursuant to G.S. 130A-383 or 130A-384, shall embalm, bury or cremate the body without the permission of the medical examiner.(b) A dead body shall not be cremated or buried at sea unless a medical examiner certifies that he has inquired into the cause and the manner of death and has the opinion that no further examination is necessary. This subsection shall not apply to deaths occurring less than 24 hours after birth or to deaths of patients resulting only from natural disease and occurring in a licensed hospital unless the death falls within the jurisdiction of the medical examiner under G.S. 130A-383 or 130A-384. The Commission is authorized to adopt rules creating additional exceptions to this subsection. For making this certification, the medical examiner shall be entitled to a fee in an amount determined reasonable and appropriate by the Secretary, not to exceed fifty dollars ($50.00), to be paid by the applicant. (1955, c. 972, s. 1; 1957, c. 1357, s. 1; 1963, c. 492, s. 4; 1967, c. 1154, s. 1; 1971, c. 444, s. 7; 1973, c. 873, s. 7; 1983, c. 891, s. 2.)
NC Gen Stat § 130A-389 (2021)
2021 North Carolina General Statutes|Chapter 130A - Public Health|Article 16 - Postmortem Investigation and Disposition.|§ 130A-389 - Autopsies.

 130A-389. Autopsies.(a) If, in the opinion of the medical examiner investigating the case or of the Chief Medical Examiner, it is advisable and in the public interest that an autopsy or other study be made; or, if an autopsy or other study is requested by the district attorney of the county or by any superior court judge, an autopsy or other study shall be made by the Chief Medical Examiner or by a competent pathologist designated by the Chief Medical Examiner. A complete autopsy report of findings and interpretations, prepared on forms designated for the purpose, shall be submitted promptly to the Chief Medical Examiner. Subject to the limitations of G.S. 130A-389.1 relating to photographs and video or audio recordings of an autopsy, a copy of the report shall be furnished to any person upon request. The fee for the autopsy or other study shall be two thousand eight hundred dollars ($2,800) to be paid as follows:(1) Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, the county in which the deceased resided shall pay a fee of one thousand seven hundred fifty dollars ($1,750) and the State shall pay the remaining balance of one thousand fifty dollars ($1,050).(2) If the death or fatal injury occurred outside the county in which the deceased resided, the State shall pay the entire fee in the amount of two thousand eight hundred dollars ($2,800).(b) In deaths where the Chief Medical Examiner and the medical examiner investigating the case do not deem it advisable and in the public interest that an autopsy be performed, but the next-of-kin of the deceased requests that an autopsy be performed, the Chief Medical Examiner or a designated pathologist may perform the autopsy, unless the deceased's health care power of attorney granted authority for such decisions to the health care agent. If the Chief Medical Examiner or a designated pathologist performs the autopsy at the request of the next of kin, the cost shall be paid by the next of kin.(c) When the next-of-kin of a decedent whose death does not fall under G.S. 130A-383 or 130A-384 requests that an autopsy be performed, the Chief Medical Examiner or a designated pathologist may perform that autopsy and the cost shall be paid by the next-of-kin.(d) The report of autopsies performed pursuant to subsections (b) and (c) shall be a part of the decedents' medical records and therefore not public records open to inspection.  (1955, c. 972, s. 1; 1957, c. 1357, s. 1; 1967, c. 1154, s. 1; 1973, c. 47, s. 2; c. 476, s. 128; 1975, c. 9; 1981, c. 187, s. 7; c. 562, p. 5; 1983, c. 891, s. 2; 1991, c. 463, s. 2; 1998-212, s. 29A.10(a); 2005-351, s. 4; 2005-393, s. 2; 2006-226, s. 32; 2013-360, s. 12E.8(a); 2015-241, s. 12E.5(a).)
NC Gen Stat § 130A-390 (2021)
2021 North Carolina General Statutes|Chapter 130A - Public Health|Article 16 - Postmortem Investigation and Disposition.|§ 130A-390 - Exhumations.

 130A-390. Exhumations.(a) In any case of death described in G.S. 130A-383 or 130A-384 where the body is buried without investigation by a medical examiner as to the cause and manner of death or where sufficient cause develops for further investigation after a body is buried as determined by a county medical examiner or the Chief Medical Examiner, the Chief Medical Examiner shall authorize an investigation and send a report of the investigation with recommendations to the appropriate district attorney. The district attorney may forward the report to the superior court judge and petition for disinterment. The judge may order that the body be exhumed and that an autopsy be performed by the Chief Medical Examiner. A report of the autopsy and other pathological studies shall be delivered to the judge. The cost of the exhumation, autopsy, transportation and disposition of the body shall be paid by the State. However, if the deceased is a resident of the county in which death or fatal injury occurred, that county shall pay the cost.(b) Any person may petition a judge of the superior court for an order of exhumation. Upon showing of sufficient cause, the judge may order the body exhumed. The cost incurred shall be assigned to the petitioner.(c) Without applying for a judicial exhumation order, the next-of-kin of a deceased person may have the remains exhumed, examined by the Chief Medical Examiner and redisposed. The cost shall be paid by the next-of-kin. (1983, c. 891, s. 2; 1991, c. 463, s. 3.)
NC Gen Stat § 130A-392 (2021)
2021 North Carolina General Statutes|Chapter 130A - Public Health|Article 16 - Postmortem Investigation and Disposition.|§ 130A-392 - Reports and records as evidence.

 130A-392. Reports and records as evidence.Reports of investigations made by a county medical examiner or by the Chief Medical Examiner and toxicology and autopsy reports made pursuant to this Part may be received as evidence in any court or other proceeding. Copies of records, photographs, laboratory findings and records in the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, any county medical examiner or designated pathologist, when duly certified, shall have the same evidentiary value as the original. (1967, c. 1154, s. 1; 1973, c. 476, s. 128; 1981, c. 187, s. 8; 1983, c. 891, s. 2.)
NC Gen Stat § 130A-393 (2021)
2021 North Carolina General Statutes|Chapter 130A - Public Health|Article 16 - Postmortem Investigation and Disposition.|§ 130A-393 - Rules.

 130A-393. Rules.The Commission shall adopt rules to carry out the intent and purpose of this Part. (1967, c. 1154, s. 1; 1973, c. 476, s. 128; 1981, c. 614, s. 15; 1983, c. 891, s. 2.)
NC Gen Stat § 130A-394 (2021)
2021 North Carolina General Statutes|Chapter 130A - Public Health|Article 16 - Postmortem Investigation and Disposition.|§ 130A-394 - Coroner to hold inquests.

 130A-394. Coroner to hold inquests.In every case requiring the medical examiner to be notified, as provided by G.S. 130A-383, the coroner shall be notified by the medical examiner, and the coroner shall hold an inquest and preliminary hearing in those instances as required in G.S. 152-7. The coroner shall file a written report of his investigation with the district attorney of the superior court and the medical examiner. The body shall remain in the custody and control of the medical examiner. However, if a county has abolished the office of coroner pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 152A at a time when Chapter 152A was in effect in the county: (i) The provisions of this Article relating to coroner shall not be applicable to the county, (ii) the provisions of G.S. 152A-9 shall remain in full force and effect in the county, and (iii) Chapter 152 of the General Statutes shall not be applicable in the county. (1955, c. 972, s. 1; 1957, c. 1357, s. 1; 1967, c. 1154, s. 1; 1969, c. 299; 1973, c. 47, s. 2; 1983, c. 891, s. 2; 1985, c. 462, s. 1.)
NC Gen Stat § 130A-395 (2021)
2021 North Carolina General Statutes|Chapter 130A - Public Health|Article 16 - Postmortem Investigation and Disposition.|§ 130A-395 - Handling and transportation of bodies.

 130A-395. Handling and transportation of bodies.(a) It shall be the duty of the physician licensed to practice medicine under Chapter 90 attending any person who dies and is known to have smallpox, plague, HIV infection, hepatitis B infection, rabies, or Jakob-Creutzfeldt to provide written notification to all individuals handling the body of the proper precautions to prevent infection. This written notification shall be provided to funeral service personnel at the time the body is removed from any hospital, nursing home, or other health care facility. When the patient dies in a location other than a health care facility, the attending physician shall notify the funeral service personnel verbally of the precautions required in subsections (b) and (c) as soon as the physician becomes aware of the death.(b) The body of a person who died from smallpox or plague shall not be embalmed. The body shall be enclosed in a strong, tightly sealed outer case which will prevent leakage or escape of odors as soon as possible after death and before the body is removed from the hospital room, home, building, or other premises where the death occurred. This case shall not be reopened except with the consent of the local health director.(c) Persons handling bodies of persons who died and were known to have HIV infection, hepatitis B infection, Jakob-Creutzfeldt, or rabies shall be provided written notification to observe blood and body fluid precautions. (1989, c. 698, s. 4.)
NC Gen Stat § 130A-398 (2021)
2021 North Carolina General Statutes|Chapter 130A - Public Health|Article 16 - Postmortem Investigation and Disposition.|§ 130A-398 - Limitation on right to perform autopsy.

 130A-398. Limitation on right to perform autopsy.The right to perform an autopsy shall be limited to those cases in which:(1) The Chief Medical Examiner or a county medical examiner, acting pursuant to G.S. 130A-389, directs that an autopsy be performed;(2) The Commission of Anatomy, acting pursuant to G.S. 130A-415, has given written consent for an autopsy to be performed on an unclaimed body;(3) A prosecuting officer or district attorney, acting pursuant to G.S. 15-7 in case of homicide, directs that an autopsy be performed;(4) The decedent directs in writing prior to death that an autopsy be performed upon the occurrence of the decedent's death;(4a) The health care agent under a health care power of attorney with authority to make decisions with respect to autopsies requests that an autopsy be performed upon the deceased principal;(5) The personal representative of the estate of the decedent requests that an autopsy be performed upon the decedent; or(6) Any of the following persons, in order of priority, when persons in prior classes are not available at the time of death, and in the absence of actual notice of contrary indications by the decedent or actual opposition by a member of the same or prior class, authorizes an autopsy to be performed:a. The spouse;b. Any adult child or stepchild;c. Any parent or stepparents;d. Any adult sibling;e. A guardian of the person of the decedent at the time of the decedent's death;f. Any relative or person who accepts responsibility for final disposition of the body by other customary and lawful procedures;g. Any person under obligation to dispose of the body. (1931, c. 152; 1933, c. 209; 1967, c. 1154, s. 4; 1969, c. 444; 1973, c. 47, s. 2; 1983, c. 891, s. 2; 2005-351, s. 5; 2006-226, s. 32.)
NC Gen Stat § 130A-399 (2021)
2021 North Carolina General Statutes|Chapter 130A - Public Health|Article 16 - Postmortem Investigation and Disposition.|§ 130A-399 - Postmortem examination of inmates of certain public institutions.

 130A-399. Postmortem examination of inmates of certain public institutions.Upon the death of any inmate of an institution maintained by the State, or a city, county, or other political subdivision of the State, for the care of individuals with a sickness, mental illness, or intellectual disability, the administrator of the institution in which the death occurs may authorize a postmortem examination of the deceased person. The examination shall be of a scope and nature necessary to promote knowledge of the human organism and its disorders.  (1943, c. 87, s. 1; 1983, c. 891, s. 2; 2018-47, s. 10(a).)
NC Gen Stat § 130A-400 (2021)
2021 North Carolina General Statutes|Chapter 130A - Public Health|Article 16 - Postmortem Investigation and Disposition.|§ 130A-400 - Written consent for postmortem examinations required.

 130A-400. Written consent for postmortem examinations required.An administrator of an institution shall not authorize a postmortem examination described in G.S. 130A-399 without first securing the written consent of the deceased person's spouse, one of the next-of-kin or nearest known relative, or other person charged by law with the duty of burial, in the order named and as known. A copy of the written consent shall be filed in the office of the administrator of the institution where the inmate died. (1943, c. 87, s. 3; 1983, c. 891, s. 2.)