§ 44-5a18 — Autopsy; notice; findings; public record

Upon the filing or service of a claim for compensation for death from an occupational disease where an autopsy is necessary to accurately and scientifically ascertain and determine the cause of death, such autopsy shall be ordered by the director. Such autopsy shall be made under the supervision of a medical examiner appointed by the director. The medical examiner shall be a health care provider who is a specialist in such examinations. The medical examiner shall perform or attend such autopsy and shall certify the medical examiner's findings in a report of the autopsy. The report of autopsy shall be filed with the director and shall be a public record. The employer and claimants shall be given reasonable notice of such autopsy and each shall have the right to have a health care provider of the employer or claimant's own choosing present at the time. The director also may exercise such authority on the director's own motion or on application made to the director at any time, upon the presentation of facts showing that a controversy may exist in regard to the cause of death or the existence of any occupational disease.

Legislative History

L. 1953, ch. 246, § 18; L. 1976, ch. 370, § 23; L. 1990, ch. 182, § 12; July 1.