Opinion ID: 1191310
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Statutory Prohibitions

Text: The Manager contends that he cannot permit inspection if disclosure would be contrary to state statutes. We agree with this as a general statement. 1969 Perm.Supp., C.R.S.1963, 113-2-1. However, under the circumstances here his attempt to bring the autopsy reports in this litigation within the terms of various statutes misses the mark completely. The act itself requires that exceptions be specifically provided by law. Appellant argues that one pertinent statutory provision is 1967 Perm.Supp., C. R.S.1963, 66-8-1 et seq., relating to vital statistics. In Cervi v. Russell, supra , we hold that vital statistic records have been classified as confidential by the general assembly. However, nowhere in the Vital Statistics Act is there any mention of autopsy reports. The mere fact that the death certificate and the autopsy report may both have a common elementthe fact and cause of deathis not sufficient to take autopsy reports out of the operation of the Open Records Act. In the absence of a specific reference to autopsy reports, we cannot hold that the Vital Statistics Act encompasses autopsy reports. The Open Records Act specifically addresses itself to coroners' autopsy reports in section 113-2-4(3)(b). [1] The act was introduced in the Senate as S.B. No. 3, and the phrase exclusive of coroners' autopsy reports was added by amendment in the House of Representatives. House Journal 1968, p. 339. This is convincing evidence of legislative intent to classify autopsy reports as public records open to inspection, rather than directing the denial of a right of inspection by any person as is the case with other medical, psychological, sociological, and scholastic data. The other statutes cited by the Manager as being inconsistent with the trial court's order and which, he contends, require us to conclude that the autopsy reports are confidential, include 1967 Perm. Supp., C.R.S.1963, 66-12-4 (tuberculosis register) and C.R.S.1963, 66-9-2 (venereal disease reports). The reports here sought contained no information covered by these statutes, so, factually, we do not reach the precise issue. However, we note that there is no specific reference to autopsy reports in those statutes, and in the absence of such reference we will not imply an exception to the Open Records Act. Appellant also argues that the Criminal Libel Statute, 1971 Perm.Supp., C.R.S.1963, XX-XX-XXX prohibits release of the autopsy report since in some cases the information contained in a report could blacken the memory of one who is dead, if published. There has been no showing that the information contained in the autopsy reports in question would have this result if published, and in any event the criminal sanctions that may be imposed if a criminal libel does result from the release of an autopsy report are sufficient to deter such actions without compromising the legislative policy of open access to public records. Without specific reference to the Open Records Act we will not imply an exception to that act from a criminal statute. In the proper situation appellant could seek to protect the confidentiality of a particular autopsy report under section 113-2-4(6). Appellant's argument that 1969 Perm. Supp., C.R.S.1963, 81-6-3 is a sufficient indication of a legislative policy of confidentiality of autopsy reports to overcome the policy of the Open Records Act is devoid of merit and will not be discussed.