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 infor
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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).