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| PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 251 | PRINTER'S NO. 1815 |
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| THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA |
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| HOUSE BILL |
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| INTRODUCED BY GODSHALL, CALTAGIRONE, CREIGHTON, CUTLER, DALEY, GEIST, GIBBONS, HARPER, HESS, KAUFFMAN, KNOWLES, MILLER, OBERLANDER, O'NEILL, PASHINSKI, PICKETT, READSHAW, REICHLEY, ROCK, SWANGER, DENLINGER AND MILNE, JANUARY 27, 2011 |
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| AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, MAY 10, 2011 |
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| AN ACT |
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1 | Amending Title 20 (Decedents, Estates and Fiduciaries) of the |
2 | Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for autopsies. |
3 | The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania |
4 | hereby enacts as follows: |
5 | Section 1. Title 20 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated |
6 | Statutes is amended by adding a chapter to read: |
7 | CHAPTER 89 |
8 | AUTOPSIES |
9 | Sec. |
10 | 8901. Definitions. |
11 | 8902. Preparation of autopsy audiovisual material. |
12 | 8903. Confidentiality. |
13 | 8904. Penalties. |
14 | § 8901. Definitions. |
15 | The following words and phrases when used in this chapter |
16 | shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the |
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1 | context clearly indicates otherwise: |
2 | "Autopsy." An examination of a body after death to determine |
3 | the: |
4 | (1) cause of death; or |
5 | (2) character and extent of changes produced by disease |
6 | or injury. |
7 | "Autopsy audiovisual material." Any of the following: |
8 | (1) A photograph of the body of the decedent. |
9 | (2) A video recording of the autopsy. |
10 | (3) An audio recording of the autopsy. |
11 | "Law enforcement officer." The term includes an |
12 | investigative and a prosecutorial officer. |
13 | § 8902. Preparation of autopsy audiovisual material. |
14 | Autopsy audiovisual material may not be prepared by an |
15 | individual unless the individual has the written consent of: |
16 | (1) the physician performing the autopsy; or |
17 | (2) the coroner or medical examiner authorized by law to |
18 | perform or order the autopsy. |
19 | § 8903. Confidentiality. |
20 | (a) General rule.-- |
21 | (1) Except as set forth under subsection (b), autopsy |
22 | audiovisual material is confidential. Autopsy audiovisual |
23 | material may not be released by any of the following: |
24 | (i) The physician, coroner or medical examiner who |
25 | performed or ordered the autopsy. |
26 | (ii) An individual who assisted the physician, |
27 | coroner or medical examiner under subparagraph (i). |
28 | (iii) An individual who participated in the |
29 | preparation of autopsy audiovisual material. |
30 | (iv) The facility where the autopsy was performed. |
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1 | (2) Autopsy audiovisual material shall not be deemed |
2 | official records and papers of the coroner and shall not be |
3 | subject to section 1251 of the act of August 9, 1955 |
4 | (P.L.323, No.130), known as The County Code. |
5 | (b) Exception.--Subsection (a) does not apply to a release |
6 | of autopsy audiovisual material in any of the following |
7 | circumstances: |
8 | (1) Pursuant to consent of the decedent or a personal |
9 | representative, except that during an investigation by law |
10 | enforcement or a coroner, the information shall only be |
11 | released in accordance with paragraph (4)(ii) 5(ii) and | <-- |
12 | (iii). |
13 | (2) To a Federal, State or local law enforcement officer |
14 | in the performance of official duties. |
15 | (3) To the coroner or medical examiner for use in the |
16 | performance of official duties or training, including | <-- |
17 | conferral with medical or scientific experts, for teaching |
18 | and training. |
19 | (4) When an autopsy is conducted pursuant to consent of | <-- |
20 | the decedent or personal representative, to a physician who |
21 | uses the materials for teaching, training or publication in a |
22 | medical or scientific journal or textbook, provided the |
23 | identity of the decedent is redacted so as to reasonably |
24 | render the decedent anonymous. |
25 | (4) (5) To a person pursuant to a court order of public | <-- |
26 | necessity or, during litigation, pursuant to a court order. |
27 | For an order under this paragraph, the following apply: |
28 | (i) There must be notice to the personal |
29 | representative of the subject decedent. |
30 | (ii) There must be a hearing. |
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1 | (iii) The court must determine, based upon clear and |
2 | convincing evidence, all of the following: |
3 | (A) Release of the autopsy audiovisual material |
4 | is necessary to protect public health or safety or is |
5 | material and relevant to the litigation. |
6 | (B) The necessity under clause (A) overrides the |
7 | privacy interest of the decedent and the family of |
8 | the decedent. |
9 | § 8904. Penalties. |
10 | (a) Preparation.--An individual who violates section 8902 |
11 | (relating to preparation of autopsy audiovisual material) |
12 | commits a misdemeanor of the second degree. |
13 | (b) Confidentiality.--A person that violates section 8903 |
14 | (relating to confidentiality) commits a misdemeanor of the first |
15 | degree. |
16 | Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days. |
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