{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/32.1-285.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/32.1-285.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/32.1-285.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/32.1-285.html"}],"law_id":77911,"edition_id":1,"section_id":77911,"structure_id":15516,"section_number":"32.1-285","catch_line":"Autopsies","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 32-31.19; 1952, c. 318; 1960, c. 366; 1975, c. 475; 1979, c. 711; 1989, c. 66; 1991, c. 644; 1993, c. 965; 2003, c. 368; 2014, c. 583; 2023, cc. 477, 478.","full_text":"A\n\nIf, in the opinion of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, it is advisable and in the public interest that an autopsy be made as part of the investigation of the death, or if an autopsy is requested by the attorney for the Commonwealth or by a judge of the circuit court of the county or city wherein such body is or where death occurred or wherein any injury contributing to or causing death was sustained, or if the decedent is an inmate in the custody of the Department of Corrections, an autopsy shall be performed by the Chief Medical Examiner, an Assistant Chief Medical Examiner, or a pathologist with whom the Commissioner has entered into an agreement in accordance with § 32.1-281. Upon petition of a member of the immediate family or the spouse of the deceased in a case of death by injury, such circuit court may, for good cause shown, order an autopsy, after providing notice and an opportunity to be heard to the attorney for the Commonwealth for the jurisdiction wherein the injury contributing to or causing death was sustained or where death occurred. Further, in all cases of death suspected to be attributable to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), an autopsy shall be advisable and in the public interest and shall be performed as required by § 32.1-285.1. A full record and report of the facts developed by the autopsy and findings of the person making such autopsy shall be promptly made and filed with the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and a copy furnished the judge or attorney for the Commonwealth requesting such autopsy. In the discretion of the Chief Medical Examiner or an Assistant Chief Medical Examiner, a copy of any autopsy report or findings may be furnished to any appropriate attorney for the Commonwealth and to the appropriate law-enforcement agency investigating the death.B\n\nIn the case of a child death investigation that indicates child abuse or neglect contributed to the death, or that the child suffered from abuse and neglect, the case shall be immediately reported to the child protective services unit of the local Department of Social Services by the Chief Medical Examiner, an Assistant Chief Medical Examiner, or a medical examiner appointed pursuant to § 32.1-282.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":279359,"text":"If, in the opinion of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, it is advisable and in the public interest that an autopsy be made as part of the investigation of the death, or if an autopsy is requested by the attorney for the Commonwealth or by a judge of the circuit court of the county or city wherein such body is or where death occurred or wherein any injury contributing to or causing death was sustained, or if the decedent is an inmate in the custody of the Department of Corrections, an autopsy shall be performed by the Chief Medical Examiner, an Assistant Chief Medical Examiner, or a pathologist with whom the Commissioner has entered into an agreement in accordance with § 32.1-281. Upon petition of a member of the immediate family or the spouse of the deceased in a case of death by injury, such circuit court may, for good cause shown, order an autopsy, after providing notice and an opportunity to be heard to the attorney for the Commonwealth for the jurisdiction wherein the injury contributing to or causing death was sustained or where death occurred. Further, in all cases of death suspected to be attributable to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), an autopsy shall be advisable and in the public interest and shall be performed as required by § 32.1-285.1. A full record and report of the facts developed by the autopsy and findings of the person making such autopsy shall be promptly made and filed with the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and a copy furnished the judge or attorney for the Commonwealth requesting such autopsy. In the discretion of the Chief Medical Examiner or an Assistant Chief Medical Examiner, a copy of any autopsy report or findings may be furnished to any appropriate attorney for the Commonwealth and to the appropriate law-enforcement agency investigating the death.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":279360,"text":"In the case of a child death investigation that indicates child abuse or neglect contributed to the death, or that the child suffered from abuse and neglect, the case shall be immediately reported to the child protective services unit of the local Department of Social Services by the Chief Medical Examiner, an Assistant Chief Medical Examiner, or a medical examiner appointed pursuant to § 32.1-282.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A"}},"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":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},"next_section":{"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},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/32.1-285\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 10 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, chapter 318; in 1960, chapter 366; in 1975, chapter 475; in 1979, chapter 711; in 1989, chapter 66; in 1991, chapter 644; in 1993, chapter 965; in 2003, chapter 368<\/a>; in 2014, chapter 583<\/a>; in 2023, chapters 477<\/a> and 478<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"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\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":67348,"section_number":"32.1-281","catch_line":"Commissioner may obtain additional services and facilities","order_by":null,"url":"\/32.1-281\/"},{"id":65973,"section_number":"32.1-282","catch_line":"Medical examiners","order_by":null,"url":"\/32.1-282\/"},{"id":70536,"section_number":"32.1-285.1","catch_line":"Death of infants under eighteen months of age; autopsies required; definition of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome","order_by":null,"url":"\/32.1-285.1\/"}],"permalink":{"id":204455,"object_type":"law","relational_id":77911,"identifier":"32.1-285","token":"32.1\/8\/1\/32.1-285","url":"\/32.1-285\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/32.1-285\/","token":"32.1\/8\/1\/32.1-285","dublin_core":{"Title":"Autopsies","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 32.1-285","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> If, in the opinion<\/span> of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, it is advisable and in the public interest that an autopsy be made as part of the investigation of the death, or if an autopsy is requested by the attorney for the Commonwealth or by a judge<\/span> of the circuit<\/span> court<\/span> of the county or city wherein such body is or where death occurred or wherein any injury contributing to or causing death was sustained, or if the decedent is an inmate in the custody<\/span> of the Department<\/span> of Corrections, an autopsy shall be performed by the Chief Medical Examiner, an Assistant Chief Medical Examiner, or a pathologist with whom the Commissioner<\/span> has entered into an agreement in accordance with § 32.1-281<\/a>. Upon petition<\/span> of a member of the immediate family or the spouse of the deceased in a case of death by injury, such circuit<\/span> court<\/span> may, for good cause shown, order<\/span> an autopsy, after providing notice and an opportunity to be heard to the attorney for the Commonwealth for the jurisdiction<\/span> wherein the injury contributing to or causing death was sustained or where death occurred. Further, in all cases of death suspected to be attributable to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), an autopsy shall be advisable and in the public interest and shall be performed as required by § 32.1-285.1<\/a>. A full record and report of the facts<\/span> developed by the autopsy and findings<\/span> of the person<\/span> making such autopsy shall be promptly made and filed with the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and a copy furnished the judge<\/span> or attorney for the Commonwealth requesting such autopsy. In the discretion of the Chief Medical Examiner or an Assistant Chief Medical Examiner, a copy of any autopsy report or findings<\/span> may be furnished to any appropriate attorney for the Commonwealth and to the appropriate law<\/span>-enforcement agency investigating the death. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> In the case of a child death investigation that indicates child abuse or neglect contributed to the death, or that the child suffered from abuse and neglect, the case shall be immediately reported to the child protective services unit of the local Department<\/span> of Social Services by the Chief Medical Examiner, an Assistant Chief Medical Examiner, or a medical examiner appointed pursuant to § 32.1-282<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nAUTOPSIES (\u00a7 32.1-285)\n\nA. If, in the opinion of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, it is\nadvisable and in the public interest that an autopsy be made as part of the\ninvestigation of the death, or if an autopsy is requested by the attorney for\nthe Commonwealth or by a judge of the circuit court of the county or city\nwherein such body is or where death occurred or wherein any injury contributing\nto or causing death was sustained, or if the decedent is an inmate in the\ncustody of the Department of Corrections, an autopsy shall be performed by the\nChief Medical Examiner, an Assistant Chief Medical Examiner, or a pathologist\nwith whom the Commissioner has entered into an agreement in accordance with\n§ 32.1-281. Upon petition of a member of the immediate family or the spouse\nof the deceased in a case of death by injury, such circuit court may, for good\ncause shown, order an autopsy, after providing notice and an opportunity to be\nheard to the attorney for the Commonwealth for the jurisdiction wherein the\ninjury contributing to or causing death was sustained or where death occurred.\nFurther, in all cases of death suspected to be attributable to Sudden Infant\nDeath Syndrome (SIDS), an autopsy shall be advisable and in the public interest\nand shall be performed as required by § 32.1-285.1. A full record and\nreport of the facts developed by the autopsy and findings of the person making\nsuch autopsy shall be promptly made and filed with the Office of the Chief\nMedical Examiner and a copy furnished the judge or attorney for the Commonwealth\nrequesting such autopsy. In the discretion of the Chief Medical Examiner or an\nAssistant Chief Medical Examiner, a copy of any autopsy report or findings may\nbe furnished to any appropriate attorney for the Commonwealth and to the\nappropriate law-enforcement agency investigating the death.\n\nB. In the case of a child death investigation that indicates child abuse or\nneglect contributed to the death, or that the child suffered from abuse and\nneglect, the case shall be immediately reported to the child protective services\nunit of the local Department of Social Services by the Chief Medical Examiner,\nan Assistant Chief Medical Examiner, or a medical examiner appointed pursuant to\n§ 32.1-282.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 32-31.19; 1952, c. 318; 1960, c. 366; 1975, c. 475; 1979,\nc. 711; 1989, c. 66; 1991, c. 644; 1993, c. 965; 2003, c. 368; 2014, c. 583;\n2023, cc. 477, 478.","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}}