2023 Indiana Code › Title 36. Local Government › Article 2. Government of Counties Generally › Chapter 14. County Coroner › 36-2-14-22.6. Information Requests; Medicolegal Examinations; Interference With Postmortem Examinations; Denial of Recovery

Sec. 22.6. (a) Upon request of a procurement organization, a coroner shall release to the procurement organization the name, contact information, and available medical and social history of a decedent whose body is under the jurisdiction of the coroner. If the decedent's body or part is medically suitable for transplantation, therapy, research, or education, the coroner shall release postmortem examination results to the procurement organization. The procurement organization may make a subsequent disclosure of the postmortem examination results or other information received from the coroner only if relevant to transplantation or therapy.
(b) The coroner may conduct a medicolegal examination by reviewing all medical records, laboratory test results, x-rays, other diagnostic results, and other information that any person possesses about a donor or prospective donor whose body is under the jurisdiction of the coroner which the coroner determines may be relevant to the investigation.
(c) A person that has any information requested by a coroner under subsection (b) shall provide that information as expeditiously as possible to allow the coroner to conduct the medicolegal investigation within a period compatible with the preservation of parts for the purpose of transplantation, therapy, research, or education.
(d) If an anatomical gift has been or might be made of a part of a decedent whose body is under the jurisdiction of the coroner and a postmortem examination is not required, or the coroner determines that a postmortem examination is required but that the recovery of the part that is the subject of an anatomical gift will not interfere with the examination, the coroner and procurement organization shall cooperate in the timely removal of the part from the decedent for the purpose of transplantation, therapy, research, or education.
(e) If an anatomical gift of a part from the decedent under the jurisdiction of the coroner has been or might be made, but the coroner, in consultation with a pathologist, initially believes that the recovery of the part could interfere with the postmortem investigation into the decedent's cause or manner of death or interfere with the preservation or collection of evidence, the coroner and pathologist shall consult with the procurement organization or physician or technician designated by the procurement organization about the proposed recovery. After consultation, the coroner may allow the recovery, delay the recovery, or deny the recovery.
(f) Before the removal procedure, the coroner or designee may allow recovery by the procurement organization to proceed, or, if the coroner or designee reasonably believes that the part may be involved in determining the decedent's cause or manner of death or, in tissue procurement cases, if the coroner or designee determines that, for evidentiary purposes, the body must remain undisturbed prior to autopsy, deny recovery by the procurement organization. The coroner or designee must be present at the scene before denying the recovery of a part. When practicable, the coroner and pathologist shall work with the procurement organization to facilitate removal of a part following any postmortem examination of the decedent.
(g) If the coroner or designee denies recovery under subsection (e) or (f), the coroner or designee shall:
(1) explain in a record the specific reasons for not allowing recovery of the part;
(2) include the specific reasons in the records of the coroner and forensic pathologist; and
(3) provide a record with the specific reasons to the procurement organization and the Indiana department of health.
(h) If the coroner or designee allows recovery of a part under subsection (d), (e), or (f), the procurement organization shall do the following:
(1) At the request of the coroner or designee and when practicable, perform diagnostic studies that would aid in documenting the presence or absence of injuries.
(2) Cause the physician or technician who removes the part to explain in a signed record the condition of the part, including the presence or absence of any injuries to the part or any surrounding tissue or organs.
(3) Provide a copy of the record described in subdivision (2) to the coroner and the investigating law enforcement agency.
(4) Cause the physician or technician who removes the part to photograph, collect, preserve, and maintain the appropriate chain of custody of any evidence that is found during procurement.
(5) Cause the physician or technician who removes the part to collect blood and other bodily fluid samples as directed by the coroner or designee.
(6) Cause the physician or technician who removes the part to, upon the request of the coroner or designee, photograph, biopsy, or provide any other information and observations concerning the part or body that would assist in the postmortem examination.
(i) If a coroner or designee must:
(1) be present at a removal procedure under subsection (f); or
(2) perform duties at times other than those that are usual and customary for the coroner or designee to maximize tissue or eye recovery under IC 29-2-16.1-21(b);
at the request of the coroner or designee, the procurement organization that requested the recovery of the part shall reimburse the coroner or designee for the additional costs incurred by the coroner or designee to comply with subsection (f) or IC 29-2-16.1-21(b).
As added by P.L.147-2007, SEC.20. Amended by P.L.56-2023, SEC.331.