CHAPTER 58
FORMERLY SENATE BILL NO. 141
AS AMENDED BY SENATE AMENDMENT NO. 1
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE, PROVIDING FOR RELEASE OF POST-MORTEM AND AUTOPSY REPORTS, NOTIFICATION OF RELATIVES AND RELEASE OF REMAINS OF DECEASED TO THE IMMEDIATE FAMILY.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Delaware:
Section 1. Amend Title 29, Chapter 47, Section 4710(b) of the Delaware Code, by adding the following sentence at the end thereof:
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner shall promptly notify a relative or close acquaintance of the deceased, if known, of such action.
Section 2. Amend Title 29, Chapter 47, Section 4711 of the Delaware Code, by adding thereto a new paragraph, to be known and designated as paragraph (d), which shall read as follows:
(d) Promptly upon the conclusion of the post-mortem examination, the body of the decedent shall be released to such person as shall be designated by a member of the decedent's immediate family, preferably the next-of-kin or by an appropriate representative of the decedent's estate.
Section 3. Amend Title 29, Chapter 47, Section 4711 of the Delaware Code, by adding thereto a new paragraph to be known and designated as paragraph (e), which shall read as follows:
(e) Upon written request the next-of-kin of the deceased shall receive a copy of the post-mortem examination report, the autopsy report, and the laboratory reports; unless there shall be a criminal prosecution pending in which case no such reports shall be released until the criminal prosecution shall have been finally concluded. The charge for completion of an insurance form for proof of death shall be Five Dollars.
Approved May 6, 1971.