FIRSTREGULARSESSION
HOUSEBILLNO.1312
102NDGENERALASSEMBLY
INTRODUCEDBYREPRESENTATIVESAULS.
2655H.01I DANARADEMANMILLER,ChiefClerk
ANACT
Torepealsections58.451,58.720,and58.725,RSMo,andtoenactinlieuthereofthreenew
sectionsrelatingtodeathinvestigations.
BeitenactedbytheGeneralAssemblyofthestateofMissouri,asfollows:
SectionA.Sections58.451,58.720,and58.725,RSMo,arerepealedandthreenew
2sectionsenactedinlieuthereof,tobeknownassections58.451,58.720,and58.725,toread
3asfollows:
58.451.1.Whenanyperson,inanycountyinwhichacoronerisrequiredbysection
258.010,diesandthereisreasonablegroundtobelievethatsuchpersondiedasaresultof:
3 (1)Violencebyhomicide,suicide,oraccident;
4 (2)Criminalabortions,includingthoseself-induced;
5 (3)Someunforeseensuddenoccurrenceandthedeceasedhadnotbeenattendedbya
6physicianduringthethirty-six-hourperiodprecedingthedeath;
7 (4)Inanyunusualorsuspiciousmanner;
8 (5)Anyinjuryorillnesswhileinthecustodyofthelaworwhileaninmateinapublic
9institution;
10
11thepolice,sheriff,lawenforcementofficerorofficial,oranypersonhavingknowledgeof
12suchadeathshallimmediatelynotifythecoroneroftheknownfactsconcerningthetime,
13place,mannerandcircumstancesofthedeath.Ifthepersonwhodiedwaspreviouslythe
14victimofasexualassaultordomesticviolence,asthosetermsaredefinedinsection
15455.010,anylawenforcementofficerorofficialprovidingthenotificationtothecoroner
16shallincludeinformationinthenotificationaboutsuchassaultorviolence.Immediately
EXPLANATION—Matterenclosedinbold-facedbrackets[thus] intheabovebillisnotenactedandis
intendedtobeomittedfromthelaw.Matterinbold-facetypeintheabovebillisproposedlanguage. 17uponreceiptofnotification,thecoronerordeputycoronershalltakechargeofthedeadbody
18andfullyinvestigatetheessentialfactsconcerningthemedicalcausesofdeath,including
19whetherbytheactofman,andthemannerofdeath.Anautopsyonthebodyshallbe
20performedifrequiredundersubsection8ofthissection.Thecoronerordeputycoroner
21maytakethenamesandaddressesofwitnessestothedeathandshallfilethisinformationin
22thecoroner'soffice.Thecoronerordeputycoronershalltakepossessionofallpropertyof
23valuefoundonthebody,makingexactinventoryofsuchpropertyonthereportandshall
24directthereturnofsuchpropertytothepersonentitledtoitscustodyorpossession.The
25coronerordeputycoronershalltakepossessionofanyobjectorarticlewhich,inthecoroner's
26orthedeputycoroner'sopinion,maybeusefulinestablishingthecauseofdeath,anddeliver
27ittotheprosecutingattorneyofthecounty.
28 2.Whenadeathoccursoutsidealicensedhealthcarefacility,thefirstlicensed
29medicalprofessionalorlawenforcementofficiallearningofsuchdeathshallimmediately
30contactthecountycoroner.Ifthepersonwhodiedwaspreviouslythevictimofasexual
31assaultordomesticviolence,asthosetermsaredefinedinsection455.010,anylaw
32enforcementofficialprovidingthenotificationtothecountycoronershallinclude
33informationinthenotificationaboutsuchassaultorviolence.Immediatelyuponreceipt
34ofsuchnotification,thecoronerorthecoroner'sdeputyshallmakethedeterminationif
35furtherinvestigationisnecessary,basedoninformationprovidedbytheindividualcontacting
36thecoroner,andimmediatelyadvisesuchindividualofthecoroner'sintentions.Anautopsy
37onthebodyshallbeperformedifrequiredundersubsection8ofthissection.
38 3.Notwithstandingtheprovisionsofsubsection2ofthissectiontothecontrary,when
39adeathoccursunderthecareofahospice,noinvestigationshallberequiredifthedeathis
40certifiedbythetreatingphysicianofthedeceasedorthemedicaldirectorofthehospiceasa
41naturaldeathduetodiseaseordiagnosedillness.Thehospiceshallprovidewrittennoticeto
42thecoronerwithintwenty-fourhoursofthedeath.
43 4.Upontakingchargeofthedeadbodyandbeforemovingthebodythecoronershall
44notifythepolicedepartmentofanycityinwhichthedeadbodyisfound,orifthedeadbody
45isfoundintheunincorporatedareaofacountygovernedbytheprovisionsofsections58.451
46to58.457,thecoronershallnotifythecountysherifforthehighwaypatrolandcausethebody
47toremainunmoveduntilthepolicedepartment,sherifforthehighwaypatrolhasinspected
48thebodyandthesurroundingcircumstancesandcarefullynotedtheappearance,thecondition
49andpositionofthebodyandrecordedeveryfactandcircumstancetendingtoshowthecause
50andmannerofdeath,withthenamesandaddressesofallknownwitnesses,andshall
51subscribethesameandmakesuchrecordapartofthecoroner'sreport.
52 5.Inanycaseofsudden,violentorsuspiciousdeathafterwhichthebodywasburied
53withoutanyinvestigationorautopsy,thecoroner,uponbeingadvisedofsuchfacts,mayat
HB1312 2 54thecoroner'sowndiscretionrequestthattheprosecutingattorneyapplyforacourtorder
55requiringthebodytobeexhumed.
56 6.Thecoronermaycertifythecauseofdeathinanycasewheredeathoccurred
57withoutmedicalattendanceorwhereanattendingphysicianrefusestosignacertificateof
58deathorwhenaphysicianisunavailabletosignacertificateofdeath.
59 7.Whenthecauseofdeathisestablishedbythecoroner,thecoronershallfileacopy
60ofthefindingsinthecoroner'sofficewithinthirtydays.
61 8.Ifonviewofthedeadbodyandafterpersonalinquiryintothecauseandmannerof
62death,thecoronerdeterminesthatafurtherexaminationisnecessaryinthepublicinterest,the
63coroneronthecoroner'sownauthoritymaymakeorcausetobemadeanautopsyonthebody.
64Exceptincircumstancesdescribedinsubsection3ofthissectioninwhichnodeath
65investigationisrequired,ifthepersonwhodiedwasthevictimofasexualassaultor
66domesticviolence,asthosetermsaredefinedinsection455.010,withinthefiveyears
67beforethedateofhisorherdeath,thecoronershallmakeorcausetobemadean
68autopsyonthebody.Thecoronermayonthecoroner'sownauthorityemploytheservices
69ofapathologist,chemist,orotherexperttoaidintheexaminationofthebodyorof
70substancessupposedtohavecausedorcontributedtodeath,andifthepathologist,chemist,or
71otherexpertisnotalreadyemployedbythecityorcountyforthedischargeofsuchservices,
72thepathologist,chemist,orotherexpertshall,uponwrittenauthorizationofthecoroner,be
73allowedreasonablecompensation,payablebythecityorcounty,inthemannerprovidedin
74section58.530.Thecoronershall,atthetimeoftheautopsy,recordorcausetoberecorded
75eachfactandcircumstancetendingtoshowtheconditionofthebodyandthecauseand
76mannerofdeath.
77 9.Ifonviewofthedeadbodyandafterpersonalinquiryintothecauseandmannerof
78death,thecoronerconsidersafurtherinquiryandexaminationnecessaryinthepublic
79interest,thecoronershallmakeoutthecoroner'swarrantdirectedtothesheriffofthecityor
80countyrequiringthesheriffforthwithtosummonsixgoodandlawfulcitizensofthecountyto
81appearbeforethecoroner,atthetimeandplaceexpressedinthewarrant,andtoinquirehow
82andbywhomthedeceaseddied.
83 10.(1)Whenapersonisbeingtransferredfromonecountytoanothercountyfor
84medicaltreatmentandsuchpersondieswhilebeingtransferred,ordieswhilebeingtreatedin
85theemergencyroomofthereceivingfacilitytheplacewhichthepersonisdeterminedtobe
86deadshallbeconsideredtheplaceofdeathandthecountycoronerormedicalexaminerofthe
87countyfromwhichthepersonwasoriginallybeingtransferredshallberesponsiblefor
88determiningthecauseandmannerofdeathfortheMissouricertificateofdeath.
89 (2)Thecoronerormedicalexaminerinthecountyinwhichthepersonisdetermined
90tobedeadmaywithauthorizationofthecoronerormedicalexaminerfromtheoriginal
HB1312 3 91transferringcounty,investigateandconductpostmortemexaminationsattheexpenseofthe
92coronerormedicalexaminerfromtheoriginaltransferringcounty.Thecoronerormedical
93examinerfromtheoriginaltransferringcountyshallberesponsibleforinvestigatingthe
94circumstancesofsuchandcompletingtheMissouricertificateofdeath.Thecertificateof
95deathshallbefiledinthecountywherethedeceasedwaspronounceddead.
96 (3)Suchcoronerormedicalexaminerofthecountywhereapersonisdeterminedto
97bedeadshallimmediatelynotifythecoronerormedicalexaminerofthecountyfromwhich
98thepersonwasoriginallybeingtransferredofthedeathofsuchperson,andshallmake
99availableinformationandrecordsobtainedforinvestigationofthedeath.
100 (4)Ifapersondoesnotdiewhilebeingtransferredandisinstitutionalizedasa
101regularlyadmittedpatientaftersuchtransferandsubsequentlydieswhileinsuchinstitution,
102thecoronerormedicalexaminerofthecountyinwhichthepersonisdeterminedtobedead
103shallimmediatelynotifythecoronerormedicalexaminerofthecountyfromwhichsuch
104personwasoriginallytransferredofthedeathofsuchperson.Insuchcases,thecountyin
105whichthedeceasedwasinstitutionalizedshallbeconsideredtheplaceofdeath.Ifthemanner
106ofdeathisbyhomicide,suicide,accident,criminalabortionincludingthosethatareself-
107induced,childfatality,oranyunusualorsuspiciousmanner,theinvestigationofthecauseand
108mannerofdeathshallreverttothecountyoforigin,andthiscoronerormedicalexaminer
109shallberesponsiblefortheMissouricertificateofdeath.Thecertificateofdeathshallbe
110filedinthecountywherethedeceasedwaspronounceddead.
111 11.Thereshallnotbeanystatuteoflimitationsortimelimitsonthecauseofdeath
112whendeathisthefinalresultordeterminedtobecausedbyhomicide,suicide,accident,child
113fatality,criminalabortionincludingthoseself-induced,oranyunusualorsuspiciousmanner.
114Theplaceofdeathshallbetheplaceinwhichthepersonisdeterminedtobedead.Thefinal
115investigationofdeathindeterminingthecauseandmatterofdeathshallreverttothecounty
116oforigin,andthecoronerormedicalexaminerofsuchcountyshallberesponsibleforthe
117Missouricertificateofdeath.Thecertificateofdeathshallbefiledinthecountywherethe
118deceasedwaspronounceddead.
119 12.Exceptasprovidedinsubsection10ofthissection,ifapersondiesinonecounty
120andthebodyissubsequentlytransferredtoanothercounty,forburialorotherreasons,the
121countycoronerormedicalexaminerwherethedeathoccurredshallberesponsibleforthe
122certificateofdeathandforinvestigatingthecauseandmannerofthedeath.
123 13.Inperformingtheduties,thecoronerormedicalexaminershallcomplywith
124sections58.775to58.785withrespecttoorgandonation.
58.720.1.Whenanypersondieswithinacountyhavingamedicalexaminerasa
2resultof:
3 (1)Violencebyhomicide,suicide,oraccident;
HB1312 4 4 (2)Thermal,chemical,electrical,orradiationinjury;
5 (3)Criminalabortions,includingthoseself-induced;
6 (4)Diseasethoughttobeofahazardousandcontagiousnatureorwhichmight
7constituteathreattopublichealth;orwhenanypersondies:
8 (a)Suddenlywheninapparentgoodhealth;
9 (b)Whenunattendedbyaphysician,chiropractor,oranaccreditedChristianScience
10practitioner,duringtheperiodofthirty-sixhoursimmediatelyprecedinghisorherdeath;
11 (c)Whileinthecustodyofthelaw,orwhileaninmateinapublicinstitution;
12 (d)Inanyunusualorsuspiciousmanner;
13
14thepolice,sheriff,lawenforcementofficerorofficial,oranypersonhavingknowledgeof
15suchadeathshallimmediatelynotifytheofficeofthemedicalexamineroftheknownfacts
16concerningthetime,place,mannerandcircumstancesofthedeath.Ifthepersonwhodied
17waspreviouslythevictimofasexualassaultordomesticviolence,asthosetermsare
18definedinsection455.010,anylawenforcementofficerorofficialprovidingthe
19notificationtotheofficeofthemedicalexaminershallincludeinformationinthe
20notificationaboutsuchassaultorviolence.Immediatelyuponreceiptofnotification,the
21medicalexaminerorhisorherdesignatedassistantshalltakechargeofthedeadbodyand
22fullyinvestigatetheessentialfactsconcerningthemedicalcausesofdeath.Heorshemay
23takethenamesandaddressesofwitnessestothedeathandshallfilethisinformationinhisor
24heroffice.Anautopsyonthebodyshallbeperformedifrequiredundersection58.725.
25Themedicalexaminerorhisorherdesignatedassistantshalltakepossessionofallproperty
26ofvaluefoundonthebody,makingexactinventorythereofonhisorherreportandshall
27directthereturnofsuchpropertytothepersonentitledtoitscustodyorpossession.The
28medicalexaminerorhisorherdesignatedassistantexaminershalltakepossessionofany
29objectorarticlewhich,inhisorheropinion,maybeusefulinestablishingthecauseofdeath,
30anddeliverittotheprosecutingattorneyofthecounty.
31 2.Whenadeathoccursoutsidealicensedhealthcarefacility,thefirstlicensed
32medicalprofessionalorlawenforcementofficiallearningofsuchdeathshallcontactthe
33countymedicalexaminer.Ifthepersonwhodiedwaspreviouslythevictimofasexual
34assaultordomesticviolence,asthosetermsaredefinedinsection455.010,anylaw
35enforcementofficialprovidingthenotificationtothecountymedicalexaminershall
36includeinformationinthenotificationaboutsuchassaultorviolence.Immediatelyupon
37receiptofsuchnotification,themedicalexaminerorthemedicalexaminer'sdeputyshall
38makeadeterminationiffurtherinvestigationisnecessary,basedoninformationprovidedby
39theindividualcontactingthemedicalexaminer,andimmediatelyadvisesuchindividualof
HB1312 5 40themedicalexaminer'sintentions.Anautopsyonthebodyshallbeperformedifrequired
41undersection58.725.
42 3.Notwithstandingtheprovisionsofsubsection2ofthissectiontothecontrary,when
43adeathoccursunderthecareofahospice,noinvestigationshallberequiredifthedeathis
44certifiedbythetreatingphysicianofthedeceasedorthemedicaldirectorofthehospiceasa
45naturaldeathduetodiseaseordiagnosedillness.Thehospiceshallprovidewrittennoticeto
46themedicalexaminerwithintwenty-fourhoursofthedeath.
47 4.Incaseofsudden,violentorsuspiciousdeathafterwhichthebodywasburied
48withoutanyinvestigationorautopsy,themedicalexaminer,uponbeingadvisedofsuchfacts,
49mayathisorherowndiscretionrequestthattheprosecutingattorneyapplyforacourtorder
50requiringthebodytobeexhumed.
51 5.Themedicalexaminershallcertifythecauseofdeathinanycasewheredeath
52occurredwithoutmedicalattendanceorwhereanattendingphysicianrefusestosigna
53certificateofdeath,andmaysignacertificateofdeathinthecaseofanydeath.
54 6.Whenthecauseofdeathisestablishedbythemedicalexaminer,heorsheshallfile
55acopyofhisorherfindingsinhisorherofficewithinthirtydaysafternotificationofthe
56death.
57 7.(1)Whenapersonisbeingtransferredfromonecountytoanothercountyfor
58medicaltreatmentandsuchpersondieswhilebeingtransferred,ordieswhilebeingtreatedin
59theemergencyroomofthereceivingfacility,theplacewhichthepersonisdeterminedtobe
60deadshallbeconsideredtheplaceofdeathandthecountycoronerorthemedicalexaminerof
61thecountyfromwhichthepersonwasoriginallybeingtransferredshallberesponsiblefor
62determiningthecauseandmannerofdeathfortheMissouricertificateofdeath.
63 (2)Thecoronerormedicalexaminerinthecountyinwhichthepersonisdetermined
64tobedeadmay,withauthorizationofthecoronerormedicalexaminerfromthetransferring
65county,investigateandconductpostmortemexaminationsattheexpenseofthecoroneror
66medicalexaminerfromthetransferringcounty.Thecoronerormedicalexaminerfromthe
67transferringcountyshallberesponsibleforinvestigatingthecircumstancesofsuchand
68completingtheMissouricertificateofdeath.Thecertificateofdeathshallbefiledinthe
69countywherethedeceasedwaspronounceddead.
70 (3)Suchcoronerormedicalexaminer,orthecountywhereapersonisdeterminedto
71bedead,shallimmediatelynotifythecoronerormedicalexaminerofthecountyfromwhich
72thepersonwasoriginallybeingtransferredofthedeathofsuchpersonandshallmake
73availableinformationandrecordsobtainedforinvestigationofdeath.
74 (4)Ifapersondoesnotdiewhilebeingtransferredandisinstitutionalizedasa
75regularlyadmittedpatientaftersuchtransferandsubsequentlydieswhileinsuchinstitution,
76thecoronerormedicalexaminerofthecountyinwhichthepersonisdeterminedtobedead
HB1312 6 77shallimmediatelynotifythecoronerormedicalexaminerofthecountyfromwhichsuch
78personwasoriginallytransferredofthedeathofsuchperson.Insuchcases,thecountyin
79whichthedeceasedwasinstitutionalizedshallbeconsideredtheplaceofdeath.Ifthemanner
80ofdeathisbyhomicide,suicide,accident,criminalabortionincludingthosethatareself-
81induced,childfatality,oranyunusualorsuspiciousmanner,theinvestigationofthecauseand
82mannerofdeathshallreverttothecountyoforigin,andthiscoronerormedicalexaminer
83shallberesponsiblefortheMissouricertificateofdeath.Thecertificateofdeathshallbe
84filedinthecountywherethedeceasedwaspronounceddead.
85 8.Thereshallnotbeanystatuteoflimitationsortimelimitsoncauseofdeathwhen
86deathisthefinalresultordeterminedtobecausedbyhomicide,suicide,accident,criminal
87abortionincludingthoseself-induced,childfatality,oranyunusualorsuspiciousmanner.
88Theplaceofdeathshallbetheplaceinwhichthepersonisdeterminedtobedead,butthe
89finalinvestigationofdeathdeterminingthecauseandmannerofdeathshallreverttothe
90countyoforigin,andthiscoronerormedicalexaminershallberesponsiblefortheMissouri
91certificateofdeath.Thecertificateofdeathshallbefiledinthecountywherethedeceased
92waspronounceddead.
93 9.Exceptasprovidedinsubsection7ofthissection,ifapersondiesinonecounty
94andthebodyissubsequentlytransferredtoanothercounty,forburialorotherreasons,the
95countycoronerormedicalexaminerwherethedeathoccurredshallberesponsibleforthe
96certificateofdeathandforinvestigatingthecauseandmannerofthedeath.
97 10.Inperformingtheduties,thecoronerormedicalexaminershallcomplywith
98sections58.775to58.785withrespecttoorgandonation.
58.725.1.Incasesinwhich,intheopinionofthemedicalexaminerorin
2accordancewithsubsection2ofthissection, anautopsyisnecessary,theautopsyshallbe
3performedbythemedicalexaminerifheorsheisapathologistorbysuchcompetent
4pathologistasmaybeauthorizedandemployedbythemedicalexaminer.
5 2.Exceptincircumstancesdescribedinsubsection3ofsection58.720inwhich
6nodeathinvestigationisrequired,ifthepersonwhodiedwasthevictimofasexual
7assaultordomesticviolence,asthosetermsaredefinedinsection455.010,withinthe
8fiveyearsbeforethedateofhisorherdeath,anautopsyonthebodyshallbeperformed.
9 3.Adetaileddescriptionofthefindingsoftheautopsy,andtheconclusionsdrawn
10therefrom,shallbefiledintheofficeofthemedicalexaminer.
âś”
HB1312 7