When necessary in connection with an investigation to determine the cause and/or manner of death and when the public interest requires it, the Chief Medical Examiner, his or her designee or a district attorney shall require and authorize an autopsy to be conducted. In determining whether the public interest requires an autopsy the medical examiner or district attorney involved shall take into account but shall not be bound by request therefor from private persons or from other public officials.
The medical examiner or his or her designee may collect and retain such blood, tissue, bone, fluid or body waste specimens as are deemed necessary to carry out his or her duties as specified in Section 931 et seq. of this title. No autopsy authorization shall be required as a prerequisite to the collection of such specimens.
Added by Laws 1961, p. 606, § 14, eff. Jan. 2, 1962. Amended by Laws 1965, c. 258, § 2, emerg. eff. June 21, 1965; Laws 1968, c. 182, § 1; Laws 1972, c. 246, § 13, emerg. eff. April 7, 1972; Laws 2014, c. 293, § 13, eff. Nov. 1, 2014; Laws 2015, c. 85, § 8, eff. Nov. 1, 2015.