(1) Except in skeletal and decomposing human remains, in the case of a deceased person under forty (40) years of age where a post-mortem examination is performed by the Office of the Kentucky State Medical Examiner under the authority of the county coroner and the state medical examiner does not determine a cause of death, the Office of the Kentucky State Medical Examiner shall conduct genetic tests on the deceased person.
(2) If the Office of the Kentucky State Medical Examiner determines the cause of death of the deceased person based on the results of genetic tests, the coroner shall enter the information on the deceased person’s death certificate for the signature of the state registrar of vital statistics.

Terms Used In Kentucky Statutes 72.222

  • Genetic tests: means testing for genetic markers for cardiac arrhythmogenic syndromes. See Kentucky Statutes 72.405
  • Post-mortem examination: means a physical examination of the body by a medical examiner or by a coroner or deputy coroner who has been certified by the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet and may include an autopsy performed by a pathologist. See Kentucky Statutes 72.405
  • State: when applied to a part of the United States, includes territories, outlying possessions, and the District of Columbia. See Kentucky Statutes 446.010
  • Statute: A law passed by a legislature.

(3) The Justice and Public Safety Cabinet, in consultation with the Office of the Kentucky State Medical Examiner, shall promulgate administrative regulations pursuant to KRS Chapter 13A necessary to administer this section.
Effective: June 29, 2023
History: Created 2023 Ky. Acts ch. 162, sec. 2, effective June 29, 2023.
Legislative Research Commission Note (6/29/2023). 2023 Ky. Acts ch. 162, sec. 4, provides that the creation of this statute and amendments to KRS § 72.405 in 2023 Ky. Acts ch. 162, secs. 2 and 1, respectively, may be cited as the Micah Shantell Fletcher Law.