{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/32.1-283.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/32.1-283.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/32.1-283.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/32.1-283.html"}],"law_id":84193,"edition_id":1,"section_id":84193,"structure_id":15516,"section_number":"32.1-283","catch_line":"Investigation of deaths; obtaining consent to removal of organs, etc.; fees","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7\u00a7 32-31.17, 32-31.18, 32-31.20; 1950, p. 659; 1952, cc. 318, 705; 1960, c. 366; 1962, c. 366; 1968, c. 431; 1972, cc. 556, 741; 1974, c. 443; 1975, c. 475; 1978, c. 175; 1979, c. 711; 1981, c. 388; 1985, c. 228; 1993, c. 965; 2002, c. 203; 2003, c. 368; 2007, cc. 19, 868; 2008, cc. 287, 433; 2009, cc. 813, 840; 2011, cc. 798, 871; 2012, cc. 476, 507; 2014, c. 583; 2023, c. 566.","full_text":"A\n\nUpon the death of any person from trauma, injury, violence, poisoning, accident, suicide, or homicide, or suddenly when in apparent good health, or when unattended by a physician, or in jail, prison, or other correctional institution, or in police custody, or who was at the time of his death, or immediately prior to admission to another hospital, an individual receiving services in a state hospital or training center operated by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services whether the death of such individual was expected or unexpected, or suddenly as an apparent result of fire, or in any suspicious, unusual, or unnatural manner, or the sudden death of any infant, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner shall be notified by the physician in attendance, hospital, law-enforcement officer, funeral director, or any other person having knowledge of such death. Good faith efforts shall be made by any person or institution having initial custody of the dead body to identify and to notify the next of kin of the decedent. Notification shall include informing the person presumed to be the next of kin that he has a right to have identification of the decedent confirmed without due delay and without being held financially responsible for any procedures performed for the purpose of the identification. Identity of the next of kin, if determined, shall be provided to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner upon transfer of the dead body.B\n\nUpon being notified of a death as provided in subsection A, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner shall take charge of the dead body and the Chief Medical Examiner shall cause an investigation into the cause and manner of death to be made and a full report, which shall include written findings, to be prepared. In order to facilitate the investigation, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is authorized to inspect and copy the pertinent medical records of the decedent whose death is the subject of the investigation. Full directions as to the nature, character, and extent of the investigation to be made in such cases shall be furnished each medical examiner appointed pursuant to § 32.1-282 by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, together with appropriate forms for the required reports and instructions for their use. The facilities and personnel of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner shall be made available to any medical examiner investigating a death in accordance with this section. Reports and findings of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner shall be confidential and shall not under any circumstance be disclosed or made available for discovery pursuant to a court subpoena or otherwise, except as provided in this chapter. Nothing in this subsection shall prohibit the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner from releasing the cause or manner of death or prohibit disclosure of reports or findings to the parties in a criminal case.C\n\nA copy of each report pursuant to this section shall be delivered to the appropriate attorney for the Commonwealth and to the appropriate law-enforcement agency investigating the death. A copy of any such report regarding the death of a victim of a traffic accident shall be furnished upon request to the State Police and the Highway Safety Commission. In addition, a copy of any report concerning an individual who was receiving services, or who immediately prior to admission to another hospital received services, in a state hospital or training center operated by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services shall be delivered to the Commissioner of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services and to the State Inspector General. A copy of any autopsy report concerning a prisoner committed to the custody of the Director of the Department of Corrections shall, upon request of the Director of the Department of Corrections, be delivered to the Director of the Department of Corrections. A copy of any autopsy report concerning a prisoner committed to any local correctional facility shall be delivered to the local sheriff or superintendent. Upon request, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner shall release such autopsy report to the decedent’s attending physician and to the personal representative or executor of the decedent. At the discretion of the Chief Medical Examiner, an autopsy report may be released to the following persons in the following order of priority: (i) the spouse of the decedent, (ii) an adult son or daughter of the decedent, (iii) either parent of the decedent, (iv) an adult sibling of the decedent, (v) any other adult relative of the decedent in order of blood relationship, or (vi) any appropriate health facility quality assurance program.D\n\nFor each investigation under this article, including the making of the required reports, the medical examiner appointed pursuant to § 32.1-282 shall receive a fee established by the Board within the limitations of appropriations for the purpose. Such fee shall be paid by the Commonwealth if the deceased is not a legal resident of the county or city in which his death occurred. In the event the deceased is a legal resident of the county or city in which his death occurred, such county or city shall be responsible for the fee up to $20. If the deceased is an individual who receives services in a state hospital or training center operated by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, the fee shall be paid by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.E\n\nNothing herein shall be construed to interfere with the autopsy procedure or with the routine obtaining of consent for removal of organs as conducted by surgical teams or others.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":301753,"text":"Upon the death of any person from trauma, injury, violence, poisoning, accident, suicide, or homicide, or suddenly when in apparent good health, or when unattended by a physician, or in jail, prison, or other correctional institution, or in police custody, or who was at the time of his death, or immediately prior to admission to another hospital, an individual receiving services in a state hospital or training center operated by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services whether the death of such individual was expected or unexpected, or suddenly as an apparent result of fire, or in any suspicious, unusual, or unnatural manner, or the sudden death of any infant, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner shall be notified by the physician in attendance, hospital, law-enforcement officer, funeral director, or any other person having knowledge of such death. Good faith efforts shall be made by any person or institution having initial custody of the dead body to identify and to notify the next of kin of the decedent. Notification shall include informing the person presumed to be the next of kin that he has a right to have identification of the decedent confirmed without due delay and without being held financially responsible for any procedures performed for the purpose of the identification. Identity of the next of kin, if determined, shall be provided to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner upon transfer of the dead body.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":301754,"text":"Upon being notified of a death as provided in subsection A, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner shall take charge of the dead body and the Chief Medical Examiner shall cause an investigation into the cause and manner of death to be made and a full report, which shall include written findings, to be prepared. In order to facilitate the investigation, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is authorized to inspect and copy the pertinent medical records of the decedent whose death is the subject of the investigation. Full directions as to the nature, character, and extent of the investigation to be made in such cases shall be furnished each medical examiner appointed pursuant to § 32.1-282 by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, together with appropriate forms for the required reports and instructions for their use. The facilities and personnel of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner shall be made available to any medical examiner investigating a death in accordance with this section. Reports and findings of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner shall be confidential and shall not under any circumstance be disclosed or made available for discovery pursuant to a court subpoena or otherwise, except as provided in this chapter. Nothing in this subsection shall prohibit the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner from releasing the cause or manner of death or prohibit disclosure of reports or findings to the parties in a criminal case.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":301755,"text":"A copy of each report pursuant to this section shall be delivered to the appropriate attorney for the Commonwealth and to the appropriate law-enforcement agency investigating the death. A copy of any such report regarding the death of a victim of a traffic accident shall be furnished upon request to the State Police and the Highway Safety Commission. In addition, a copy of any report concerning an individual who was receiving services, or who immediately prior to admission to another hospital received services, in a state hospital or training center operated by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services shall be delivered to the Commissioner of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services and to the State Inspector General. A copy of any autopsy report concerning a prisoner committed to the custody of the Director of the Department of Corrections shall, upon request of the Director of the Department of Corrections, be delivered to the Director of the Department of Corrections. A copy of any autopsy report concerning a prisoner committed to any local correctional facility shall be delivered to the local sheriff or superintendent. Upon request, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner shall release such autopsy report to the decedent’s attending physician and to the personal representative or executor of the decedent. At the discretion of the Chief Medical Examiner, an autopsy report may be released to the following persons in the following order of priority: (i) the spouse of the decedent, (ii) an adult son or daughter of the decedent, (iii) either parent of the decedent, (iv) an adult sibling of the decedent, (v) any other adult relative of the decedent in order of blood relationship, or (vi) any appropriate health facility quality assurance program.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":301756,"text":"For each investigation under this article, including the making of the required reports, the medical examiner appointed pursuant to § 32.1-282 shall receive a fee established by the Board within the limitations of appropriations for the purpose. Such fee shall be paid by the Commonwealth if the deceased is not a legal resident of the county or city in which his death occurred. In the event the deceased is a legal resident of the county or city in which his death occurred, such county or city shall be responsible for the fee up to $20. If the deceased is an individual who receives services in a state hospital or training center operated by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, the fee shall be paid by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"4":{"id":301757,"text":"Nothing herein shall be construed to interfere with the autopsy procedure or with the routine obtaining of consent for removal of organs as conducted by surgical teams or others.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D"}},"ancestry":[{"id":15516,"edition_id":1,"name":"Chief Medical Examiner and Postmortem Examinations","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13612,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:55:44","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:55:44","permalink":{"id":204385,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15516,"identifier":"1","token":"32.1\/8\/1","url":"\/32.1\/8\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13612,"edition_id":1,"name":"Postmortem Examinations and Services","identifier":"8","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12727,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:45:23","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:45:23","permalink":{"id":204383,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13612,"identifier":"8","token":"32.1\/8","url":"\/32.1\/8\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12727,"edition_id":1,"name":"Health","identifier":"32.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:50","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:50","permalink":{"id":201099,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12727,"identifier":"32.1","token":"32.1","url":"\/32.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":63189,"structure_id":15516,"section_number":"32.1-277","catch_line":"Office of the Chief Medical Examiner; central and district offices and facilities","url":"\/32.1-277\/","token":"32.1\/8\/1\/32.1-277","metadata":false},{"id":69133,"structure_id":15516,"section_number":"32.1-278","catch_line":"Appointment and qualifications of Chief Medical Examiner","url":"\/32.1-278\/","token":"32.1\/8\/1\/32.1-278","metadata":false},{"id":79063,"structure_id":15516,"section_number":"32.1-279","catch_line":"Duties of Chief Medical Examiner; teaching legal medicine","url":"\/32.1-279\/","token":"32.1\/8\/1\/32.1-279","metadata":false},{"id":84728,"structure_id":15516,"section_number":"32.1-280","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/32.1-280\/","token":"32.1\/8\/1\/32.1-280","metadata":false},{"id":67348,"structure_id":15516,"section_number":"32.1-281","catch_line":"Commissioner may obtain additional services and facilities","url":"\/32.1-281\/","token":"32.1\/8\/1\/32.1-281","metadata":false},{"id":65973,"structure_id":15516,"section_number":"32.1-282","catch_line":"Medical examiners","url":"\/32.1-282\/","token":"32.1\/8\/1\/32.1-282","metadata":false},{"id":68777,"structure_id":15516,"section_number":"32.1-282.1","catch_line":"Per diem medicolegal death investigators","url":"\/32.1-282.1\/","token":"32.1\/8\/1\/32.1-282.1","metadata":false},{"id":84193,"structure_id":15516,"section_number":"32.1-283","catch_line":"Investigation of deaths; obtaining consent to removal of organs, etc.; fees","url":"\/32.1-283\/","token":"32.1\/8\/1\/32.1-283","metadata":false},{"id":83516,"structure_id":15516,"section_number":"32.1-283.1","catch_line":"State Child Fatality Review Team; membership; access to and maintenance of records; confidentiality; etc","url":"\/32.1-283.1\/","token":"32.1\/8\/1\/32.1-283.1","metadata":false},{"id":83036,"structure_id":15516,"section_number":"32.1-283.2","catch_line":"Local and regional child fatality review teams established; membership; authority; confidentiality; immunity","url":"\/32.1-283.2\/","token":"32.1\/8\/1\/32.1-283.2","metadata":false},{"id":63867,"structure_id":15516,"section_number":"32.1-283.3","catch_line":"Family violence fatality review teams established; model protocol and data management; membership; authority; confidentiality, etc","url":"\/32.1-283.3\/","token":"32.1\/8\/1\/32.1-283.3","metadata":false},{"id":84558,"structure_id":15516,"section_number":"32.1-283.4","catch_line":"Confidentiality of certain information and records collected and maintained by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner","url":"\/32.1-283.4\/","token":"32.1\/8\/1\/32.1-283.4","metadata":false},{"id":60499,"structure_id":15516,"section_number":"32.1-283.5","catch_line":"Adult Fatality Review Team; duties; membership; confidentiality; penalties; report; etc","url":"\/32.1-283.5\/","token":"32.1\/8\/1\/32.1-283.5","metadata":false},{"id":66954,"structure_id":15516,"section_number":"32.1-283.6","catch_line":"Local and regional adult fatality review teams established; membership; authority; confidentiality; immunity","url":"\/32.1-283.6\/","token":"32.1\/8\/1\/32.1-283.6","metadata":false},{"id":64217,"structure_id":15516,"section_number":"32.1-283.7","catch_line":"Local and regional overdose fatality review teams established; membership; authority; confidentiality; immunity","url":"\/32.1-283.7\/","token":"32.1\/8\/1\/32.1-283.7","metadata":false},{"id":74829,"structure_id":15516,"section_number":"32.1-283.8","catch_line":"Maternal Mortality Review Team; duties; membership; confidentiality; penalties; report; etc","url":"\/32.1-283.8\/","token":"32.1\/8\/1\/32.1-283.8","metadata":false},{"id":59143,"structure_id":15516,"section_number":"32.1-284","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/32.1-284\/","token":"32.1\/8\/1\/32.1-284","metadata":false},{"id":77911,"structure_id":15516,"section_number":"32.1-285","catch_line":"Autopsies","url":"\/32.1-285\/","token":"32.1\/8\/1\/32.1-285","metadata":false},{"id":70536,"structure_id":15516,"section_number":"32.1-285.1","catch_line":"Death of infants under eighteen months of age; autopsies required; definition of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome","url":"\/32.1-285.1\/","token":"32.1\/8\/1\/32.1-285.1","metadata":false},{"id":75099,"structure_id":15516,"section_number":"32.1-286","catch_line":"Exhumations","url":"\/32.1-286\/","token":"32.1\/8\/1\/32.1-286","metadata":false},{"id":83615,"structure_id":15516,"section_number":"32.1-287","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/32.1-287\/","token":"32.1\/8\/1\/32.1-287","metadata":false},{"id":67498,"structure_id":15516,"section_number":"32.1-288","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/32.1-288\/","token":"32.1\/8\/1\/32.1-288","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":68777,"structure_id":15516,"section_number":"32.1-282.1","catch_line":"Per diem medicolegal death investigators","url":"\/32.1-282.1\/","token":"32.1\/8\/1\/32.1-282.1","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":83516,"structure_id":15516,"section_number":"32.1-283.1","catch_line":"State Child Fatality Review Team; membership; access to and maintenance of records; confidentiality; etc","url":"\/32.1-283.1\/","token":"32.1\/8\/1\/32.1-283.1","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/32.1-283\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 21 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1952, chapters 318 and 705; in 1960, chapter 366; in 1962, chapter 366; in 1968, chapter 431; in 1972, chapters 556 and 741; in 1974, chapter 443; in 1975, chapter 475; in 1978, chapter 175; in 1979, chapter 711; in 1981, chapter 388; in 1985, chapter 228; in 1993, chapter 965; in 2002, chapter 203<\/a>; in 2003, chapter 368<\/a>; in 2007, chapters 19<\/a> and 868<\/a>; in 2008, chapters 287<\/a> and 433<\/a>; in 2009, chapters 813<\/a> and 840<\/a>; in 2011, chapters 798<\/a> and 871<\/a>; in 2012, chapters 476<\/a> and 507<\/a>; in 2014, chapter 583<\/a>; in 2023, chapter 566<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":58930,"section_number":"32.1-127.1:03","catch_line":"Health records privacy","order_by":null,"url":"\/32.1-127.1_03\/"},{"id":68053,"section_number":"32.1-263","catch_line":"Filing death certificates; medical certification; investigation by Office of the Chief Medical Examiner","order_by":null,"url":"\/32.1-263\/"},{"id":60499,"section_number":"32.1-283.5","catch_line":"Adult Fatality Review Team; duties; membership; confidentiality; penalties; report; etc","order_by":null,"url":"\/32.1-283.5\/"},{"id":66954,"section_number":"32.1-283.6","catch_line":"Local and regional adult fatality review teams established; membership; authority; confidentiality; immunity","order_by":null,"url":"\/32.1-283.6\/"},{"id":75099,"section_number":"32.1-286","catch_line":"Exhumations","order_by":null,"url":"\/32.1-286\/"},{"id":60700,"section_number":"32.1-309.1","catch_line":"Identification of decedent, next of kin; disposition of claimed dead body","order_by":null,"url":"\/32.1-309.1\/"},{"id":67654,"section_number":"32.1-309.2","catch_line":"Disposition of unclaimed dead body; how expenses paid","order_by":null,"url":"\/32.1-309.2\/"},{"id":54369,"section_number":"32.1-309.3","catch_line":"Cremations and burials at sea","order_by":null,"url":"\/32.1-309.3\/"},{"id":73758,"section_number":"54.1-2807","catch_line":"Other prohibited activities","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-2807\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":65973,"section_number":"32.1-282","catch_line":"Medical examiners","order_by":null,"url":"\/32.1-282\/"}],"permalink":{"id":204415,"object_type":"law","relational_id":84193,"identifier":"32.1-283","token":"32.1\/8\/1\/32.1-283","url":"\/32.1-283\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/32.1-283\/","token":"32.1\/8\/1\/32.1-283","dublin_core":{"Title":"Investigation of deaths; obtaining consent to removal of organs, etc.; fees","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 32.1-283","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Upon the death of any person<\/span> from trauma, injury, violence, poisoning, accident, suicide, or homicide<\/span>, or suddenly when in apparent good health, or when unattended by a physician, or in jail, prison, or other correctional institution, or in police custody<\/span>, or who was at the time of his death, or immediately prior to admission to another hospital, an individual receiving services in a state hospital or training center operated by the Department<\/span> of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services whether the death of such individual was expected or unexpected, or suddenly as an apparent result of fire, or in any suspicious, unusual, or unnatural manner, or the sudden death of any infant, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner shall be notified by the physician in attendance, hospital, law<\/span>-enforcement officer, funeral director, or any other person<\/span> having knowledge of such death. Good faith efforts shall be made by any person<\/span> or institution having initial custody<\/span> of the dead body to identify and to notify the next of kin of the decedent. Notification shall include informing the person<\/span> presumed to be the next of kin that he has a right to have identification of the decedent confirmed without due delay and without being held financially responsible for any procedures performed for the purpose of the identification. Identity of the next of kin, if determined, shall be provided to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner upon transfer of the dead body. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Upon being notified of a death as provided in subsection A, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner shall take charge of the dead body and the Chief Medical Examiner shall cause an investigation into the cause and manner of death to be made and a full report, which shall include written findings<\/span>, to be prepared. In order<\/span> to facilitate the investigation, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is authorized to inspect and copy the pertinent medical records of the decedent whose death is the subject of the investigation. Full directions as to the nature, character, and extent of the investigation to be made in such cases shall be furnished each medical examiner appointed pursuant to § 32.1-282<\/a> by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, together with appropriate forms for the required reports and instructions for their use. The facilities and personnel of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner shall be made available to any medical examiner investigating a death in accordance with this section. Reports and findings<\/span> of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner shall be confidential and shall not under any circumstance be disclosed or made available for discovery<\/span> pursuant to a court<\/span> subpoena<\/span> or otherwise, except as provided in this chapter. Nothing in this subsection shall prohibit the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner from releasing the cause or manner of death or prohibit disclosure of reports or findings<\/span> to the parties in a criminal case. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> A copy of each report pursuant to this section shall be delivered to the appropriate attorney for the Commonwealth and to the appropriate law<\/span>-enforcement agency investigating the death. A copy of any such report regarding the death of a victim of a traffic accident shall be furnished upon request to the State Police and the Highway Safety Commission. In addition, a copy of any report concerning an individual who was receiving services, or who immediately prior to admission to another hospital received services, in a state hospital or training center operated by the Department<\/span> of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services shall be delivered to the Commissioner<\/span> of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services and to the State Inspector General. A copy of any autopsy report concerning a prisoner committed to the custody<\/span> of the Director of the Department<\/span> of Corrections shall, upon request of the Director of the Department<\/span> of Corrections, be delivered to the Director of the Department<\/span> of Corrections. A copy of any autopsy report concerning a prisoner committed to any local correctional facility shall be delivered to the local sheriff or superintendent. Upon request, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner shall release such autopsy report to the decedent’s attending physician and to the personal representative or executor of the decedent. At the discretion of the Chief Medical Examiner, an autopsy report may be released to the following persons<\/span> in the following order<\/span> of priority: (i) the spouse of the decedent, (ii) an adult son or daughter of the decedent, (iii) either parent of the decedent, (iv) an adult sibling of the decedent, (v) any other adult relative of the decedent in order<\/span> of blood relationship, or (vi) any appropriate health facility quality assurance program. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> For each investigation under this article, including the making of the required reports, the medical examiner appointed pursuant to § 32.1-282<\/a> shall receive a fee established by the Board<\/span> within the limitations of appropriations for the purpose. Such fee shall be paid by the Commonwealth if the deceased is not a legal resident of the county or city in which his death occurred. In the event the deceased is a legal resident of the county or city in which his death occurred, such county or city shall be responsible for the fee up to $20. If the deceased is an individual who receives services in a state hospital or training center operated by the Department<\/span> of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, the fee shall be paid by the Department<\/span> of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> Nothing herein shall be construed to interfere with the autopsy procedure or with the routine obtaining of consent for removal of organs as conducted by surgical teams or others. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nINVESTIGATION OF DEATHS; OBTAINING CONSENT TO REMOVAL OF ORGANS, ETC.; FEES (\u00a7\n32.1-283)\n\nA. Upon the death of any person from trauma, injury, violence, poisoning,\naccident, suicide, or homicide, or suddenly when in apparent good health, or\nwhen unattended by a physician, or in jail, prison, or other correctional\ninstitution, or in police custody, or who was at the time of his death, or\nimmediately prior to admission to another hospital, an individual receiving\nservices in a state hospital or training center operated by the Department of\nBehavioral Health and Developmental Services whether the death of such\nindividual was expected or unexpected, or suddenly as an apparent result of\nfire, or in any suspicious, unusual, or unnatural manner, or the sudden death of\nany infant, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner shall be notified by the\nphysician in attendance, hospital, law-enforcement officer, funeral director, or\nany other person having knowledge of such death. Good faith efforts shall be\nmade by any person or institution having initial custody of the dead body to\nidentify and to notify the next of kin of the decedent. Notification shall\ninclude informing the person presumed to be the next of kin that he has a right\nto have identification of the decedent confirmed without due delay and without\nbeing held financially responsible for any procedures performed for the purpose\nof the identification. Identity of the next of kin, if determined, shall be\nprovided to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner upon transfer of the dead\nbody.\n\nB. Upon being notified of a death as provided in subsection A, the Office of the\nChief Medical Examiner shall take charge of the dead body and the Chief Medical\nExaminer shall cause an investigation into the cause and manner of death to be\nmade and a full report, which shall include written findings, to be prepared. In\norder to facilitate the investigation, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner\nis authorized to inspect and copy the pertinent medical records of the decedent\nwhose death is the subject of the investigation. Full directions as to the\nnature, character, and extent of the investigation to be made in such cases\nshall be furnished each medical examiner appointed pursuant to § 32.1-282\nby the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, together with appropriate forms for\nthe required reports and instructions for their use. The facilities and\npersonnel of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner shall be made available to\nany medical examiner investigating a death in accordance with this section.\nReports and findings of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner shall be\nconfidential and shall not under any circumstance be disclosed or made available\nfor discovery pursuant to a court subpoena or otherwise, except as provided in\nthis chapter. Nothing in this subsection shall prohibit the Office of the Chief\nMedical Examiner from releasing the cause or manner of death or prohibit\ndisclosure of reports or findings to the parties in a criminal case.\n\nC. A copy of each report pursuant to this section shall be delivered to the\nappropriate attorney for the Commonwealth and to the appropriate law-enforcement\nagency investigating the death. A copy of any such report regarding the death of\na victim of a traffic accident shall be furnished upon request to the State\nPolice and the Highway Safety Commission. In addition, a copy of any report\nconcerning an individual who was receiving services, or who immediately prior to\nadmission to another hospital received services, in a state hospital or training\ncenter operated by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental\nServices shall be delivered to the Commissioner of Behavioral Health and\nDevelopmental Services and to the State Inspector General. A copy of any autopsy\nreport concerning a prisoner committed to the custody of the Director of the\nDepartment of Corrections shall, upon request of the Director of the Department\nof Corrections, be delivered to the Director of the Department of Corrections. A\ncopy of any autopsy report concerning a prisoner committed to any local\ncorrectional facility shall be delivered to the local sheriff or superintendent.\nUpon request, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner shall release such\nautopsy report to the decedent’s attending physician and to the personal\nrepresentative or executor of the decedent. At the discretion of the Chief\nMedical Examiner, an autopsy report may be released to the following persons in\nthe following order of priority: (i) the spouse of the decedent, (ii) an adult\nson or daughter of the decedent, (iii) either parent of the decedent, (iv) an\nadult sibling of the decedent, (v) any other adult relative of the decedent in\norder of blood relationship, or (vi) any appropriate health facility quality\nassurance program.\n\nD. For each investigation under this article, including the making of the\nrequired reports, the medical examiner appointed pursuant to § 32.1-282\nshall receive a fee established by the Board within the limitations of\nappropriations for the purpose. Such fee shall be paid by the Commonwealth if\nthe deceased is not a legal resident of the county or city in which his death\noccurred. In the event the deceased is a legal resident of the county or city in\nwhich his death occurred, such county or city shall be responsible for the fee\nup to $20. If the deceased is an individual who receives services in a state\nhospital or training center operated by the Department of Behavioral Health and\nDevelopmental Services, the fee shall be paid by the Department of Behavioral\nHealth and Developmental Services.\n\nE. Nothing herein shall be construed to interfere with the autopsy procedure or\nwith the routine obtaining of consent for removal of organs as conducted by\nsurgical teams or others.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7\u00a7 32-31.17, 32-31.18, 32-31.20; 1950, p. 659; 1952, cc.\n318, 705; 1960, c. 366; 1962, c. 366; 1968, c. 431; 1972, cc. 556, 741; 1974, c.\n443; 1975, c. 475; 1978, c. 175; 1979, c. 711; 1981, c. 388; 1985, c. 228; 1993,\nc. 965; 2002, c. 203; 2003, c. 368; 2007, cc. 19, 868; 2008, cc. 287, 433; 2009,\ncc. 813, 840; 2011, cc. 798, 871; 2012, cc. 476, 507; 2014, c. 583; 2023, c.\n566.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}