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Texas Code of Criminal Procedure - CRIM P Art. § 49A.064. Taking Samples;  Limited Autopsies

Current as of January 01, 2024 | Updated by Findlaw Staff

<Text of article effective April 1, 2027. >

(a) If a justice of the peace determines that a complete autopsy is unnecessary to confirm or determine the cause of death, the justice may order a physician to take or remove from a body a sample of body fluids, tissues, or organs to determine the nature and cause of death.  Except as provided by Subsection (b), a justice may not order a person other than a physician to take a sample from the body of a deceased person.

(b) A justice of the peace may order a physician, qualified technician, paramedic, chemist, registered nurse, or licensed vocational nurse to take a specimen of blood from the body of a person:

(1) who died as the result of a motor vehicle collision if the justice determines that circumstances indicate that the person may have been driving while intoxicated;  or

(2) to aid in the confirmation or determination of the cause and manner of the person's death while conducting an inquest.

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Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Texas Code of Criminal Procedure - CRIM P Art. § 49A.064. Taking Samples;  Limited Autopsies - last updated January 01, 2024 | https://codes.findlaw.com/tx/code-of-criminal-procedure/crim-ptx-crim-pro-art-49a-064/

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