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Alaska Statutes.

Title 12. Code of Criminal Procedure

Chapter 65. Death Investigations and Medical Examiners

Section 20. Medical Death Investigations.

AS 12.65.020. Medical Death Investigations.

(a) When a death is reported to the state medical examiner under AS 12.65.005, or when a person dies under circumstances that, in the opinion of the state medical examiner, warrant an investigation, the state medical examiner may perform a medical death investigation. In performing the investigation, the state medical examiner may

(1) order that the body of the person who has died not be moved or otherwise disturbed without the permission of the medical examiner;

(2) request a peace officer to secure the scene and perform an on-scene investigation;

(3) view the remains of the deceased person;

(4) order the remains of the deceased to be transported to another location;

(5) perform a post mortem examination;

(6) perform an autopsy;

(7) take possession of property considered necessary for the investigation;

(8) subpoena and examine a person or record necessary in the opinion of the medical examiner to determine the material facts relating to the death; and

(9) take other actions appropriate under the circumstances to determine the cause and manner of death.

(b) When the state medical examiner has completed an investigation or made the inquiry considered appropriate by the examiner, the examiner shall prepare a report of the examiner's findings and conclusions. If the findings and conclusions indicate that the death may have been caused by criminal means, the state medical examiner shall submit a copy of the report to the district attorney responsible for prosecutions in the location where the death occurred. The state medical examiner's investigative report is a privileged and confidential document, not subject to public disclosure under AS 40.25. It may be disclosed to public officers and employees for a public purpose and, when doing so will not interfere with an ongoing investigation or prosecution, to a person who is related to the deceased or who has a financial or personal interest in the estate of the deceased person.

(c) The state medical examiner or a prosecuting attorney may petition the court to hold a death inquest under AS 09.55.062 if the findings and conclusions of the state medical examiner, in the opinion of the state medical examiner or prosecuting attorney, warrant the inquest. Otherwise, the state medical examiner shall cause a certificate of death for the deceased person to be completed and filed as prescribed by law.

(d) The state medical examiner may direct the state registrar of vital statistics to amend a death certificate when, in the opinion of the state medical examiner, the death certificate is incomplete or inaccurate.

(e) The state medical examiner may enter into agreements for services to be performed by persons in the course of medical investigations and may call upon public employees, including a peace officer or a village public safety officer, to perform or assist in performing the duties specified in this section.

(f) The state medical examiner and individuals who perform or assist the state medical examiner in performing the duties of the state medical examiner under this section are immune from civil liability based on determining the cause and manner of a person's death.

(g) The Department of Health and Social Services shall adopt regulations to implement this section.

Note to HTML Version:

This version of the Alaska Statutes is current through December, 2004. The Alaska Statutes were automatically converted to HTML from a plain text format. Every effort has been made to ensure their accuracy, but this can not be guaranteed. If it is critical that the precise terms of the Alaska Statutes be known, it is recommended that more formal sources be consulted. For statutes adopted after the effective date of these statutes, see, Alaska State Legislature If any errors are found, please e-mail Touch N' Go systems at E-mail. We hope you find this information useful.

Last modified 9/3/2005