Text of Statute

(A) The coroner, any deputy coroner, an investigator appointed pursuant to section 313.05 of the Revised Code, or any other person the coroner designates as having the authority to act under this section may go to the dead body and take charge of it. Whether and when an autopsy is performed shall be determined under sections 313.121 [313.12.1] and 313.131 [313.13.1] of the Revised Code. If an autopsy is performed by the coroner, deputy coroner, or pathologists, a detailed description of the observations written during the progress of such autopsy, or as soon after such autopsy as reasonably possible, and the conclusions drawn from the observations shall be filed in the office of the coroner.

If he takes charge of and decides to perform, or performs, an autopsy on a dead body under section 313.121 [313.12.1] or 313.131 [313.13.1] of the Revised Code, the coroner, or in his absence, any deputy coroner, under division (E) of section 2108.02 of the Revised Code, may waive his paramount right to any donated part of the dead body.

(B) If the office of the coroner is notified that a person who was the operator of a motor vehicle that was involved in an accident or crash was killed in the accident or crash or died as a result of injuries suffered in it, the coroner, deputy coroner, or pathologist shall go to the dead body and take charge of it and administer a chemical test to the blood of the deceased person to determine the alcohol, drug, or alcohol and drug content of the blood. This division does not authorize the coroner, deputy coroner, or pathologist to perform an autopsy, and does not affect and shall not be construed as affecting the provisions of section 313.131 [313.13.1] of the Revised Code that govern the determination of whether and when an autopsy is to be performed.

HISTORY: GC § 2855-6; 121 v 591; Bureau of Code Revision, 10-1-53; 136 v H 1182 (Eff 5-4-76); 141 v S 283 (Eff 3-25-87); 143 v S 131 (Eff 7-25-90); 143 v H 639 (Eff 9-26-90); 144 v H 244. Eff 11-1-92.

The effective date is set by section 4 of HB 244.