Posted: | January 3, 2013 11:15 AM |
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From: | Representative Robert W. Godshall |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | Confidentiality of Certain Information related to Autopsies - Former HB 298 |
In the near future, I am planning to reintroduce former House Bill 298. This piece of legislation will add a new Chapter to Title 20 (Decedents, Estates and Fiduciaries) to provide for the confidentiality of autopsy audiovisual material. This legislation provides that all audiovisual materials (photographs, video recordings and audio recordings) generated in connection with performance of an autopsy shall be confidential. No person can prepare any autopsy audiovisual materials unless he has the written consent of the physician performing the autopsy or the coroner or medical examiner authorized to perform or order the autopsy. All audiovisual material associated with the autopsy shall be confidential and may not be released by the physician, coroner or medical examiner who performed the autopsy or any person assisting them in either the autopsy or the preparation of audiovisual material. The autopsy audiovisual materials shall not be deemed official records and papers of the coroner and shall not be subject to the filing requirement set forth in the County Code. 16 P.S. §1251. The bill outlines exceptions to the general rule, allowing audiovisual material to be released:
Former Cosponsors: CALTAGIRONE, CREIGHTON, CUTLER, DALEY, GEIST, GIBBONS, HARPER, HESS, KAUFFMAN, KNOWLES, MILLER, OBERLANDER, O'NEILL, PASHINSKI, PICKETT, READSHAW, REICHLEY, ROCK, SWANGER, DENLINGER, MILNE AND BROOKS. |
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View Attachment |
Introduced as HB207