Arizona
Coroner/Medical Examiner Laws
Is medical death investigation system centralized, county-based, or district-based?
County-based. Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 11-592.
If centralized, in which department or agency is the system housed?
Not applicable.
Does the state system have a coroner, medical examiner, or coroners and medical examiners?
Medical examiner. Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 11-592.
“In practice” notes
None.
Is there a state medical examiner?
No.
If so, what is the state medical examiner’s role?
Not applicable.
In what department or agency is the state medical examiner’s office located?
Not applicable.
Are there deputies?
[No, but i]f the board of supervisors determines that the appointment of a medical examiner is not practicable, the board of supervisors shall designate one or more alternate medical examiners who need not be residents of the county. An alternate medical examiner shall perform the duties of a medical examiner except all autopsies shall be performed by a forensic pathologist. Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 11-592.
If so, what are the deputies’ roles?
An alternate medical examiner shall perform the duties of a medical examiner except all autopsies shall be performed by a forensic pathologist. Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 11-592.
What are the qualifications for deputies?
[A]ll autopsies shall be performed by a forensic pathologist.
Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 11-592.
What types of deaths are required to be investigated?
The county medical examiner or alternate medical examiner shall conduct a death investigation to determine whether or not the public interest requires an external examination, autopsy or other special investigation. Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 11-597.
The county medical examiner or alternate medical examiner shall direct a death investigation . . . Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 11-594.
1. Death when not under the current care of a health care provider as defined pursuant to § 36-301.
2. Death resulting from violence.
3. Death occurring suddenly when in apparent good health.
4. Death occurring in a prison.
5. Death of a prisoner.
6. Death occurring in a suspicious, unusual or unnatural manner.
7. Death from disease or an accident believed to be related to the deceased’s occupation or employment.
8. Death believed to present a public health hazard.
9. Death occurring during, in association with or as a result of anesthetic or surgical procedures.
10. Death involving unidentifiable bodies.
Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 11-593.
What types of deaths are required to be autopsied?
The county medical examiner or alternate medical examiner . . . shall determine whether an external examination or autopsy is required . . .The county medical examiner or alternate medical examiner may . . . [a]uthorize forensic pathologists to perform examinations and autopsies. Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 11-594.
An external examination or autopsy is not required for deaths due to natural diseases that occur during surgical or anesthetic procedures unless the medical examiner or alternate medical examiner determines that an external examination or autopsy is necessary . . . In the determination of the need for an autopsy, the county medical examiner or alternate medical examiner may consider the request for an autopsy made by private persons or public officials. If the county attorney or a superior court judge of the county where the death occurred requests an autopsy, the county medical examiner shall perform the autopsy, or, in the case of an alternate medical examiner, an autopsy shall be performed by a forensic pathologist. . . . A forensic pathologist shall perform an autopsy in cases of sudden and unexplained infant death in accordance with protocols adopted by the director of the department of health services . . . Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 11-597.
Does the state require that pathologists perform the autopsies?
Yes, “all autopsies shall be performed by a forensic pathologist.” Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 11-592.
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