Posted: | July 30, 2018 12:47 PM |
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From: | Representative Rick Saccone |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | Amending Title 35 to include a section on handling identifying information and electronic devices in the identification of an unidentified person/patient |
In the near future, I plan to introduce legislation that would amend Title 35 (Health and Safety) to include specific parameters and procedures on the handling of a victim/patient’s personal effects by first responders that can aid in the confirmation of their identity. Constituents in my district have notified me of a situation where this identifying information was separated from a victim/patient at a time when the individual was not able to identify himself/herself. The separation of this information from the individual can lead to a delay in identification of the victim/patient and hinder the ability to notify family and loved ones. My legislation would set specific procedures on first responders and hospitals so that any means of identifying an unidentified victim/patient, i.e. cell phones, drivers license, photo identification, etc., are sure to be passed along with them so appropriate notifications can be made. It also sets a time frame in which an unidentified deceased victim/person must be held before his/her body is released to a coroner’s office, as access to the body is restricted to coroners and their staff until the body is released to a funeral home. Without these proposed parameters there is the possibility that family and loved ones will not be notified before the body is transported to the coroner’s office, thus potentially keeping them from seeing their loved one for an extended period of time, until their body is finally released to the funeral director. Please join me in cosponsoring this important piece of legislation that would require Thank you. |
Introduced as HB2613