FLORIDA STATUTE REQUIRES AUTOPSY FOR CREMATION (ACTUAL STATUTE AND LINK) "

Florida State Statute ^ | March 29, 2005

[CitizenM]

Title XXIXPUBLIC HEALTH
Chapter 406MEDICAL EXAMINERS; DISPOSITION OF DEAD BODIES

406.11">406.11 Examinations, investigations, and autopsies.--

(1) In any of the following circumstances involving the death of a human being, the medical examiner of the district in which the death occurred or the body was found shall determine the cause of death and shall, for that purpose, make or have performed such examinations, investigations, and autopsies as he or she shall deem necessary or as shall be requested by the state attorney:
(a) When any person dies in the state:
1. Of criminal violence.
2. By accident.
3. By suicide.
4. Suddenly, when in apparent good health.
5. Unattended by a practicing physician or other recognized practitioner.
6. In any prison or penal institution.
7. In police custody.
8. In any suspicious or unusual circumstance.
9. By criminal abortion.
10. By poison.
11. By disease constituting a threat to public health.
12. By disease, injury, or toxic agent resulting from employment.

(b) When a dead body is brought into the state without proper medical certification.

(c) When a body is to be cremated, dissected, or buried at sea.

(2)(a) The district medical examiner shall have the authority in any case coming under subsection (1) to perform, or have performed, whatever autopsies or laboratory examinations he or she deems necessary and in the public interest to determine the identification of or cause or manner of death of the deceased or to obtain evidence necessary for forensic examination.

(b) The Medical Examiners Commission shall adopt rules, pursuant to chapter 120, providing for the notification of the next of kin that an investigation by the medical examiner's office is being conducted. A medical examiner may not retain or furnish any body part of the deceased for research or any other purpose which is not in conjunction with a determination of the identification of or cause or manner of death of the deceased or the presence of disease or which is not otherwise authorized by this chapter, part X of chapter 732, or chapter 873, without notification of and approval by the next of kin.

(3) The Medical Examiners Commission may adopt rules incorporating by reference parameters or guidelines of practice or standards of conduct relating to examinations, investigations, or autopsies performed by medical examiners.

History.--s. 6, ch. 70-232; s. 26, ch. 73-334; s. 1, ch. 77-174; s. 1, ch. 87-166; s. 29, ch. 97-103; s. 3, ch. 98-253

[concerned about politics]

Dr. Jon Thogmartin, the medical examiner chosen by Felos/Schiavo to perform the autopsy, was appointed to his current position by Gov. Jeb Bush in 2000 for a three year term and reappointed in 2003. He reports to the Pinellas County Board of Commissioners, the same commission of which Greer was a commissioner prior to assuming judicial office.

[freespirited]

I am sick of hearing Michael Schiavo being vilified.

Can we at least agree that he should have found a new home for her cats instead of putting them to sleep? Reading about that just did not give me a warm fuzzy about him.

(oops no pun intended)

[lizma]

FR used to be a place where we could exchange information - not only raw emotion.

Bullhockey!!! I guess you weren't around for Elian. That was just as brutal. People get emotional at injustice. Thank God they should.

As far as links for info on this case, it takes alot of time but there have been hundreds to both sides.

I've been hanging out here for about seven years and I really haven't seen a difference in tone other than more people whining.

[concerned about politics]

FEDERAL APPEALS COURT WILL LET TERRI'S PARENTS FILE A PETITION FOR REHEARING FOR AN INJUNCTION TO REINSERT FEEDING TUBE... BREAKING

[foolscap]

Unattended by a practicing physician or other recognized practitioner

This exemption fits Terri since she is in a health care facility and her death is most certainly attended. I work with hospice in out state and there are no autopsies unless there is reason to suspect a crime. I do not think Michael is being forced to have an autopsy done.

[Servant of the 9]

If the autopsy takes place, her supporters will have to seriously rethink Internet info. If he cremates her what will you say?

If he cremates her without an autopsy, I will watch the Medical Examiner, who is a Jeb Bush appointee, have him and the crematory operators indicted by the State Attorney General for a felony violation of flori-duh law.

So9