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GEORGIA CODE (Last Updated: August 20, 2013) |
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Title 45. PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES |
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Chapter 16. CORONERS |
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Article 2. DEATH INVESTIGATIONS |
| § 45-16-20. Short title |
| § 45-16-21. Definitions |
| § 45-16-22. Medical examiners' inquiries -- Facilities, persons authorized to perform inquiries, payment of fees, jurisdiction, and clerical and secretarial assistance |
| § 45-16-23. Delegation of power by coroner or county medical examiner; qualifications of those authorized to perform examinations |
| § 45-16-24. Notification of suspicious or unusual deaths; court ordered medical examiner's inquiry; written report of inquiry |
| § 45-16-25.1. Remains of deceased to be released to next of kin within 24 hours; exception in cases where foul play suspected |
| § 45-16-26. Assumption of duties by medical examiner in absence of coroner or deputy coroner; signing of death certificates |
| § 45-16-27. When inquest to be held; special situations; coroner's fee; issuance of subpoenas for books, records, or papers; cost of copying; limited disclosure of photographs |
| § 45-16-27.1. Medical examination of unexpected or unexplained death of person under seven years of age |
| § 45-16-28. Performance of autopsy when not required under Code Section 45-16-24 |
| § 45-16-29. Removal of body generally |
| § 45-16-30. Transport of body across state line |
| § 45-16-31. Authorization of removal of body for convenience of examination; investigation of premises before removal |
| § 45-16-32. Report of examination and investigation; maintenance of copies; verification of foul play by forensic laboratory; transmittal of copies of reports to district attorneys |
| § 45-16-33. Coroner to make inquest upon completion of examination and verification |
| § 45-16-34. Issuance of subpoenas; administration of oath to witnesses |
| § 45-16-35. Coroner to require material witnesses to enter into recognizance; petition for issuance of warrant for arrest of suspected person |
| § 45-16-36. Impaneling of jury to hold inquest; compensation of jurors |
| § 45-16-37. Jury not to be impaneled until investigation complete; jury not required to view body |
| § 45-16-38. Issuance of precept to sheriff to summon inquest jury; form |
| § 45-16-39. Oath for foreman and jury of inquest |
| § 45-16-40. Coroner's charge to jury; power of jury |
| § 45-16-41. Defaulting juror to be fined by coroner |
| § 45-16-42. Offering in evidence of results of examination |
| § 45-16-43. Receipt as evidence of records, findings, and reports of medical examiners' inquiries |
| § 45-16-44. Disposition of bodies after examination and inquest; payment of burial expenses from deceased's estate |
| § 45-16-45. Authority of coroners and medical examiners to disinter bodies |
| § 45-16-46. Obtaining of blood sample where person unable to consent; analysis of blood specimens; certified report |
| § 45-16-47. Penalty for violation of article |
| § 45-16-48. Authorization of coroner's employment of court reporter |
| § 45-16-49. Fees |
| § 45-16-50. Providing biological substances to canine instructors or schools |
REFS & ANNOS
TITLE 45 Chapter 16 Article 2 NOTE
CROSS REFERENCES. --Death certificates generally, § 31-10-15 et seq. Criteria for determining death, § 31-10-16.
OPINIONS OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
CERTIFICATION OF CAUSE OF DEATH. --It is the duty of the funeral director who first assumes custody of the dead body to obtain medical certification of the cause of death; said medical certification should be completed and signed within 48 hours after death by the physician or osteopath in charge of the patient's care for the illness or condition which resulted in death except when inquiry is required by the former provisions of the Post-mortem Examination Act. 1968 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 68-294.
A CORONER ON OWN INITIATIVE MAY NOT CHANGE THE NATURE OF THE DEATH RECORDED on a death certificate based on a subsequent jury verdict in criminal or civil proceedings. 1967 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 67-378.
EYE WITNESSES NOT REQUIRED. --By omitting from this article any reference to the absence of "eye witnesses" and including a reference to "sufficient evidence ... to disclose the cause of death," the General Assembly meant to and did relieve the several counties of the necessity to incur the expense of a post mortem and an inquest where there was sufficient evidence to establish the cause of death, whether or not there were eye witnesses. 1954-56 Op. Att'y Gen. p. 57.
RESEARCH REFERENCES
Am. Jur. Trials. --Pathology for Litigators, 77 Am. Jur. Trials 407.
ALR. --Liability for wrongful autopsy, 18 ALR4th 858.
Transplantation of organs, validity and construction of statutes organizing removal of body parts for transplant, 54 ALR4th 1214.
Homicide: cremation of victim's body as violation of accused's rights, 70 ALR4th 1091.
OPINIONS OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
CERTIFICATION OF CAUSE OF DEATH. --It is the duty of the funeral director who first assumes custody of the dead body to obtain medical certification of the cause of death; said medical certification should be completed and signed within 48 hours after death by the physician or osteopath in charge of the patient's care for the illness or condition which resulted in death except when inquiry is required by the former provisions of the Post-mortem Examination Act. 1968 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 68-294.
A CORONER ON OWN INITIATIVE MAY NOT CHANGE THE NATURE OF THE DEATH RECORDED on a death certificate based on a subsequent jury verdict in criminal or civil proceedings. 1967 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 67-378.
EYE WITNESSES NOT REQUIRED. --By omitting from this article any reference to the absence of "eye witnesses" and including a reference to "sufficient evidence ... to disclose the cause of death," the General Assembly meant to and did relieve the several counties of the necessity to incur the expense of a post mortem and an inquest where there was sufficient evidence to establish the cause of death, whether or not there were eye witnesses. 1954-56 Op. Att'y Gen. p. 57.
RESEARCH REFERENCES
Am. Jur. Trials. --Pathology for Litigators, 77 Am. Jur. Trials 407.
ALR. --Liability for wrongful autopsy, 18 ALR4th 858.
Transplantation of organs, validity and construction of statutes organizing removal of body parts for transplant, 54 ALR4th 1214.
Homicide: cremation of victim's body as violation of accused's rights, 70 ALR4th 1091.