California Government Code 27520 – (a) The coroner shall cause to be performed an autopsy on a …
(a) The coroner shall cause to be performed an autopsy on a decedent, for which an autopsy has not already been performed, if the surviving spouse requests him or her to do so in writing. If there is no surviving spouse, the coroner shall cause an autopsy to be performed if requested to do so in writing by a surviving child or parent, or if there is no surviving child or parent, by the next of kin of the deceased.
(b) The coroner may cause to be performed an autopsy on a decedent, for which an autopsy has already been performed, if the surviving spouse requests him or her to do so in writing. If there is no surviving spouse, the coroner may cause an autopsy to be performed if requested to do so in writing by a surviving child or parent, or if there is no surviving child or parent, by the next of kin of the deceased.
Terms Used In California Government Code 27520
- Decedent: A deceased person.
- Person: includes any person, firm, association, organization, partnership, limited liability company, business trust, corporation, or company. See California Government Code 17
- Spouse: includes "registered domestic partner" as required by §. See California Government Code 12.2
- Subdivision: means a subdivision of the section in which the term occurs unless some other section is expressly mentioned. See California Government Code 10
(c) The cost of an autopsy requested pursuant to either subdivision (a) or (b) shall be borne by the person requesting that it be performed.
(Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 787, Sec. 6. (SB 1189) Effective January 1, 2017.)