GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
1989 SESSION

CHAPTER 267
HOUSE BILL 527

AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE CORONER OF BLADEN COUNTY TO ORDER AUTOPSIES TO BE PERFORMED AND TO COMPLETE THE MEDICAL CERTIFICATION OF DEATH WITH RESPECT TO DEATHS WITHIN THEIR JURISDICTIONS.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

Section 1.  The Coroner of Bladen County, so long as said coroner is a Registered and licensed Emergency Medical Technician, shall have the authority to order autopsies to be performed by persons authorized by law to perform autopsies with respect to all deaths within their jurisdictions.  The coroners may order autopsies to be performed on those deceased persons receiving Veterans Benefits Administration disability benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs at the time of their death.  The Coroner shall also have the authority to make and sign the medical certification of death with respect to all deaths where there is no evidence of foul play within their jurisdictions.  The provisions of this section shall not affect the authority of the medical examiner under Article 16 of Chapter 130A of the General Statutes.
Sec. 2.  Notwithstanding the provisions of G.S. 130A-383, the Coroner of Bladen County may remove, or order the removal of, the body or anatomical material suspected of being or determined to be a part or parts of a human body from the scene of the death, in order that investigation may continue.
Sec. 2.1.  Notwithstanding Sections 1 and 2, this authority shall only apply in the absence of the medical examiner or attending physician.
Sec. 3.  This act shall become effective upon ratification.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 8th day of June, 1989.