Autopsy. Requirement? Time Frame?
Briefly.
In current times an autopsy exam is often conducted w'in 24-48 hrs of the death <<< IME of following true crime for decades. That is, except in circumstances that @MassGuy alluded to, where remains are in a seriously decomposed or skeletonized condition, when recovered, say, months or yrs after 'going missing', etc. Thx MG.
As THIS fatal shooting occurred Th. afternoon, seems imo likely that conducting an autopsy would allow still permit next of kin to schedule & hold a funeral w remains present at a service on Sunday.
Generally iiuc, a "HOLD-UP" re an autopsy does not stem from the initial stage (the famous Y-incision; pathologist's visual examination; removing organs; taking blood, fluid samples, tissue samples; X-rays; etc.), because after that the remains can be released to next of kin.
But before an autopsy REPORT can be FINALIZED, pathologist must receive & review auxiliary reports such as tox tests & other test results. Whether those analyses are conducted by a state lab or outside commercial lab, sometimes (often? usually?) those are the cause of delays. Some coroner/med examiner websites (sorry, ATM cannot recall specific ones) say that sometimes a final autopsy report may not be released until 60-90 days after death or even 90-120 days later.
@Simply Southern not surprising imo that a service for the judge was scheduled so soon.
Not So Briefly (Or a Buncha Tedious Details re KY law)
The fed CDC website displays summaries of laws re coroners, med examiners, pathologists, etc. & circumstances required INVESTIGATIONS of deaths - which may determine that an autopsy is not needed, and when AUTOPSIES are required. Yadda, yadda. That website displays the info state by state.
KENTUCKY.
KY medical death investigation system is COUNTY based. There is also a STATE medical examiner whose role is to assist coroners by providing medical assistance to him in determining causes of death.
Quotes from CSC site about KY's law, summarized in "Plain English" / "plain language" w citations to relevant section of statutes:
"What types of deaths are required to be investigated?"
"Coroners shall require a post-mortem examination to be performed in the following circumstances:
"(1) When the death of a human being appears to be caused by homicide or violence;...."
"What types of deaths are required to be autopsied?
“(1) The coroner of each county shall investigate the cause and manner of all deaths that are defined by KRS 72.405 as a coroner's case.”
"(2) The coroner may, in his sound discretion, when investigating a coroner's case, request the assistance of the district medical examiner and the Office of the Kentucky State Medical Examiner, order an autopsy, and hold an inquest.
Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 72.410."
""Coroner's case" means a case in which the coroner has reasonable cause for believing that the death of a human being within his county was caused by any of the conditions set forth in KRS 72.025 [see above]. Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 72.405."
"Does the state require that pathologists perform the autopsies?
"Yes, "[c]oroner ordered autopsy" means an autopsy ordered by the coroner having jurisdiction and performed by a pathologist pursuant to such authorization in order to ascertain the cause and manner of death in a coroner's case. Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 72.405."
^ Kentucky Coroner/Medical Examiner Law
@OldAce re post #271 “Nothing curious about it really as to circumstances of death.”
Summary of KY law ^ re “types of deaths are required to be autopsied” explains why an autopsy is required for THIS death.
@Simply Southern Posting to expand on some earlier posts that responded to your Q.
Briefly.
In current times an autopsy exam is often conducted w'in 24-48 hrs of the death <<< IME of following true crime for decades. That is, except in circumstances that @MassGuy alluded to, where remains are in a seriously decomposed or skeletonized condition, when recovered, say, months or yrs after 'going missing', etc. Thx MG.
As THIS fatal shooting occurred Th. afternoon, seems imo likely that conducting an autopsy would allow still permit next of kin to schedule & hold a funeral w remains present at a service on Sunday.
Generally iiuc, a "HOLD-UP" re an autopsy does not stem from the initial stage (the famous Y-incision; pathologist's visual examination; removing organs; taking blood, fluid samples, tissue samples; X-rays; etc.), because after that the remains can be released to next of kin.
But before an autopsy REPORT can be FINALIZED, pathologist must receive & review auxiliary reports such as tox tests & other test results. Whether those analyses are conducted by a state lab or outside commercial lab, sometimes (often? usually?) those are the cause of delays. Some coroner/med examiner websites (sorry, ATM cannot recall specific ones) say that sometimes a final autopsy report may not be released until 60-90 days after death or even 90-120 days later.
@Simply Southern not surprising imo that a service for the judge was scheduled so soon.
Not So Briefly (Or a Buncha Tedious Details re KY law)
The fed CDC website displays summaries of laws re coroners, med examiners, pathologists, etc. & circumstances required INVESTIGATIONS of deaths - which may determine that an autopsy is not needed, and when AUTOPSIES are required. Yadda, yadda. That website displays the info state by state.
KENTUCKY.
KY medical death investigation system is COUNTY based. There is also a STATE medical examiner whose role is to assist coroners by providing medical assistance to him in determining causes of death.
Quotes from CSC site about KY's law, summarized in "Plain English" / "plain language" w citations to relevant section of statutes:
"What types of deaths are required to be investigated?"
"Coroners shall require a post-mortem examination to be performed in the following circumstances:
"(1) When the death of a human being appears to be caused by homicide or violence;...."
"What types of deaths are required to be autopsied?
“(1) The coroner of each county shall investigate the cause and manner of all deaths that are defined by KRS 72.405 as a coroner's case.”
"(2) The coroner may, in his sound discretion, when investigating a coroner's case, request the assistance of the district medical examiner and the Office of the Kentucky State Medical Examiner, order an autopsy, and hold an inquest.
Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 72.410."
""Coroner's case" means a case in which the coroner has reasonable cause for believing that the death of a human being within his county was caused by any of the conditions set forth in KRS 72.025 [see above]. Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 72.405."
"Does the state require that pathologists perform the autopsies?
"Yes, "[c]oroner ordered autopsy" means an autopsy ordered by the coroner having jurisdiction and performed by a pathologist pursuant to such authorization in order to ascertain the cause and manner of death in a coroner's case. Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 72.405."
^ Kentucky Coroner/Medical Examiner Law
@OldAce re post #271 “Nothing curious about it really as to circumstances of death.”
Summary of KY law ^ re “types of deaths are required to be autopsied” explains why an autopsy is required for THIS death.
