Utah

Is medical death investigation system centralized, county-based, or district-based?
Centralized. Utah Code Ann. § 26-4-4.

If centralized, in which department or agency is the system housed?
Department of Health. Utah Code Ann. § 26-4-4.

Does the state system have a coroner, medical examiner, or coroners and medical examiners?
Medical examiner. Utah Code Ann. § 26-4-4; Utah Code Ann. § 26-4-5.

“In practice” notes
None.

Is there a state medical examiner?
Yes. Utah Code Ann. § 26-4-4.

If so, what is the state medical examiner’s role?
(b) The medical examiner has authority to:

(i) employ medical, technical and clerical personnel as may be required to effectively administer this chapter, subject to the rules of the department and the state merit system;

(ii) conduct investigations and pathological examinations;

(iii) perform autopsies authorized in this title;

(iv) conduct or authorize necessary examinations on dead bodies; and

(v) notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection 26-28-122(3), retain tissues and biological samples for scientific purposes and those the medical examiner considers necessary to accurately certify the cause and manner of death.

(c) In the case of an unidentified body, the medical examiner shall authorize or conduct investigations, tests and processes in order to determine its identity as well as the cause of death.

Utah Code Ann. § 26-4-4.

In what department or agency is the state medical examiner’s office located?
Department of Health. Utah Code Ann. § 26-4-4.

Are there deputies?
“Medical examiner” means the state medical examiner appointed pursuant to Section 26-4-4 or a deputy appointed by the medical examiner. Utah Code Ann. § 26-4-2.

The medical examiner may appoint regional pathologists, each of whom shall be approved by the executive director. Utah Code Ann. § 26-4-4.

Also:
The county executive, with the advice and consent of the county legislative body, may appoint medical examiners for their respective counties. Utah Code Ann. § 26-4-5.

If so, what are the deputies’ roles?
Unspecified.

What are the qualifications for deputies?
Regional pathologists: pathologists. Utah Code Ann. § 26-4-4.

Is the coroner or medical examiner position elected?
No. Utah Code Ann. § 26-4-4.

If so, how many years is the term of office?
Not applicable.

What are the qualifications specified by law?
[C]hief medical examiner . . .  shall be licensed to practice medicine in the state and shall meet the qualifications of a forensic pathologist, certified by the American Board of Pathologists. Utah Code Ann. § 26-4-4.

“Regional pathologist” means a trained pathologist licensed to practice medicine and surgery in the state, appointed by the medical examiner pursuant to Subsection 26-4-4(3). Utah Code Ann. § 26-4-2.

What types of deaths are required to be investigated?
Upon notification under Section 26-4-8 or investigation by the medical examiner’s office, the medical examiner shall assume custody of a deceased body if it appears that death was:

(1) by violence, gunshot, suicide, or accident;

(2) sudden death while in apparent good health;

(3) unattended deaths, except that an autopsy may only be performed in accordance with the provisions of Subsection 26-4-9(3);

(4) under suspicious or unusual circumstances;

(5) resulting from poisoning or overdose of drugs;

(6) resulting from diseases that may constitute a threat to the public health;

(7) resulting from disease, injury, toxic effect, or unusual exertion incurred within the scope of the decedent’s employment;

(8) due to sudden infant death syndrome;

(9) resulting while the decedent was in prison, jail, police custody, the state hospital, or in a detention or medical facility operated for the treatment of persons with a mental illness, persons who are emotionally disturbed, or delinquent persons;

(10) associated with diagnostic or therapeutic procedures; or

(11) described in this section when request is made to assume custody by a county or district attorney or law enforcement agency in connection with a potential homicide investigation or prosecution.

Utah Code Ann. § 26-4-7.

On a determination by the law enforcement agency that death may have occurred in any of the ways described in Section 26-4-7, the death shall be reported to the district attorney or county attorney having criminal jurisdiction and to the medical examiner by the law enforcement agency having jurisdiction over the investigation. Utah Code Ann. § 26-4-8.

What types of deaths are required to be autopsied?
If, in the opinion of the medical examiner, an autopsy should be performed or if an autopsy is requested by the district attorney or county attorney having criminal jurisdiction, or by the attorney general, the autopsy shall be performed by the medical examiner or a regional pathologist. Utah Code Ann. § 26-4-6.

(1) The medical examiner shall perform an autopsy to:

(a) aid in the discovery and prosecution of a crime;

(b) protect an innocent person accused of a crime; and

(c) disclose hazards to public health.

Utah Code Ann. § 26-4-13.

Does the state require that pathologists perform the autopsies?
Yes. If, in the opinion of the medical examiner, an autopsy should be performed or if an autopsy is requested by the district attorney or county attorney having criminal jurisdiction, or by the attorney general, the autopsy shall be performed by the medical examiner or a regional pathologist. Utah Code Ann. § 26-4-6.