§ 45-27-60.04 — Duty to Investigate Certain Deaths

Alabama § 45-27-60.04

• Jurisdiction: Alabama
• Title 45: Local Laws
• Ch. 27: Escambia County
• Art. 6: Coroner

Text

It shall be the duty of the county medical examiner, or designated assistant county medical examiners, to investigate any death in Escambia County when the death falls within one or more of the following categories:
(1) Deaths that occur suddenly and unexpectedly, that is, when the individual has not been under medical care for significant disease of the heart or lung, or other disease.
(2) Deaths suspected to be due to violence, resulting from any one of the following: Suicide, accident, homicide, or undetermined injury, regardless of when or where the injury occurred.
(3) Deaths suspected to be due to alcohol or drugs, or exposure to toxic agents.
(4) Deaths due to poisoning.
(5) Deaths of individuals in the custody of law enforcement officers or in penal institutions.
(6) Deaths suspected to be involved with the occupation of the decedent.
(7) Deaths unattended by a physician.
(8) Deaths due to neglect.
(9) Any stillbirth of 20 or more weeks gestation unattended by a physician.
(10) Deaths due to criminal abortion.
(11) Any death of an infant or child under 19 years of age where the medical history has not established some preexisting medical condition to clearly explain the death and the preterminal circumstances.
(12) Deaths that are possibly directly or indirectly attributable to environmental exposure not otherwise specified.
(13) Deaths suspected to be caused by infectious or contagious disease wherein the diagnosis and extent of disease at the time are undetermined.
(14) Deaths occurring under suspicious or unusual circumstances.
(15) When a body is to be cremated, dissected, or buried at sea.
(16) When a body is brought into Escambia County without proper medical certification.

Legislative History

(Act 97-571, p. 1010, §5; Act 2025-438, §1.)