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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fifth Legislature, Second Regular Session
medical examiner; pathologist assistant; autopsies
Purpose
Allows a county medical examiner to authorize pathologist assistants to assist with performing autopsies under direct supervision.
Background
Current statute requires a county medical examiner or alternate medical examiner to direct death investigations and, on determination that the circumstances of the death provide jurisdiction, to: 1) take charge of the dead body; 2) determine if an autopsy is required; 3) certify to the cause and manner of death following completion of the death investigation; 4) reduce the findings to writing and promptly make a full report; and 5) perform other prescribed duties.
A county medical examiner or alternate medical examiner may: 1) assign to a medical death investigator or other qualified personnel all aspects of a death investigation, except the performance of autopsies; 2) authorize forensic pathologists to perform examinations and autopsies; and 3) authorize medical students or residents and fellows in pathology training to perform autopsies under the supervision of a licensed physician who is board certified in forensic pathology, in accordance with procedures adopted by the county medical examiner or alternate medical examiner (A.R.S. § 11-594).
Medical information is information received by a medical examiner concerning the condition of a near-death patient or decedent including: 1) medical records; 2) reports of an attending or primary care physician, nurse practitioner, medical death investigator or organ procurement organizations; and 3) physical exams by a medical or alternate medical examiner (A.R.S. § 11-591).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Allows the county medical examiner or alternate medical examiner to authorize pathologist assistants to assist with performing autopsies under the direct supervision of a licensed physician who is board-certified in forensic pathology, in accordance with procedures adopted by the county or alternate medical examiner.
2. Prohibits pathologist assistants from certifying a cause of death or independently performing an autopsy.
3. Defines pathologist assistant as a person certified as a pathologist assistant who has graduated from a pathologist assistant training program approved by a national accrediting agency for clinical laboratory sciences.
4. Makes technical and conforming changes.
5. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
House Action
HHS 1/31/22 DP 9-0-0-0
3rd Read 2/10/22 55-0-5
Prepared by Senate Research
February 28, 2022
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