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Indiana Code Title 36. Local Government § 36-2-14-6.7

Current as of January 02, 2024 | Updated by FindLaw Staff

Sec. 6.7. (a) This section applies to a child who:

(1) died suddenly and unexpectedly;

(2) was less than three (3) years of age at the time of death; and

(3) was in apparent good health before dying.

(b) A child death pathologist or a pathology resident acting under the direct supervision of a child death pathologist shall conduct an autopsy of a child described in subsection (a).

(c) A county coroner may not certify the cause of death of a child described in subsection (a) until an autopsy is performed at county expense.

(d) The county coroner shall contact the parent or guardian of a child described in subsection (a) and notify the parent or guardian that an autopsy will be conducted at county expense.

(e) A county coroner may not certify the cause of death for an infant described in subsection (a) as a sudden unexplained infant death, including sudden infant death syndrome, until a comprehensive death investigation is performed at the county's expense that includes the following:

(1) Comprehensive autopsy including the following:

(A) Imaging.

(B) Pathology.

(C) Toxicology.

(2) Death scene investigation to include death scene photos.

(3) Submission of the sudden unexplained infant death report form to a child death pathologist.

(f) The child death pathologist shall:

(1) ensure that a tangible summary of the autopsy results is provided;

(2) provide informational material concerning sudden infant death syndrome; and

(3) unless the release of autopsy results would jeopardize a law enforcement investigation, provide notice that a parent or guardian has the right to receive the preliminary autopsy results;

to the parents or guardian of the child within one (1) week after the autopsy.

(g) If a parent or guardian of a child described in subsection (a) requests the autopsy report of the child, the coroner shall provide the autopsy report to the parent or guardian within thirty (30) days after the:

(1) request; or

(2) completion of the autopsy report;

whichever is later, at no cost.

(h) A coroner shall notify:

(1) a local child fatality review team; or

(2) if the county does not have a local child fatality review team, the statewide child fatality review committee;

of the death of a child described in subsection (a).

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Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Indiana Code Title 36. Local Government § 36-2-14-6.7 - last updated January 02, 2024 | https://codes.findlaw.com/in/title-36-local-government/in-code-sect-36-2-14-6-7/

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