1.    The coroner or the coroner’s medical deputy, if the coroner deems it necessary, may take custody of the deceased human body for the purpose of autopsy. When the coroner does not deem an autopsy necessary, the sheriff or state‘s attorney may direct an autopsy be performed.

2.    The autopsy must be performed by the state forensic examiner or by the state forensic examiner’s authorized pathologist at a facility approved by the state forensic examiner.

3.    Upon the death of a minor whose cause of death is suspected by the minor’s parent or guardian or the coroner or the coroner’s medical deputy to have been the unexplained sudden death in infant or child with or without intrinsic or extrinsic factors, or both, the coroner or the coroner’s medical deputy, after consultation with the parent or guardian, shall take custody of the body and shall arrange for the performance of the autopsy by the state forensic examiner or a pathologist designated by the state forensic examiner, unless the county coroner, sheriff, state’s attorney, and the parent or guardian all agree that an autopsy is unnecessary. The parents or guardian and the state health officer must be promptly notified of the results of that autopsy.

4.    A report of death, an autopsy report, and any working papers, notes, images, pictures, photographs, or recordings in any form are confidential but the coroner may use or disclose these materials for purposes of an investigation, inquest, or prosecution. The coroner may disclose a copy of the report of death in accordance with the authority of the state forensic examiner under section 23-01-05.5 and may disclose an autopsy photograph or other visual image or video or audio recording subject to limitations in section 44-04-18.18. The coroner shall disclose a copy of the autopsy report to the state forensic examiner.