Title 5 Flashcards
Death
Health General Annotated code of Maryland: Title 5
“Body” means a dead human body.
Title 5-101- “body” Defined
Notwithstanding any other law, a pronouncement of death under this subtitle shall be used for all purposes in this State, including the trials of civil and criminal cases.
Title 5-201 Scope of subtitle (not on exam)
An individual is dead if, based on ordinary standards of medical procedure, the individual has sustained either:
- Irreversible cessation of circulatory and respiratory functions; or
- Irreversible cessation of all functions of the entire brain, including the brain stem.
Title 5-202- Cessation of Circulatory and Respiratory or Brain Functions
(a)- Determination of death
- This subsection does not apply to the removal of vital organs while the individual is alive, if the individual gives informed consent to the removal.
- A pronouncement of death under this section shall be made before any vital organ is removed for transplantation.
Title 5-202 (b)- Removal of Organs
(not on exam)
Repealed by acts 1982, ch. 327, effective July 1, 1982
Tital 5-203- Absence of Brain Function
(not on exam)
Determination of Death
Subtitle 2
Postmortem Examiners Commission
Subtitle 3
The state postmortem examiners commission.
Commission
A death that a medical examiner is required by law to investigate (this does not necessiary mean an autopsy).
Medical Examiner’s Case
Medical Examiner’s Cases
Title 5-309
- A medical examiner shall investigate the death of a human being if the death occurs:
- By violence
- By suicide
- By casualty
- Suddenly, if the decased was in apparent good health or unattended by a physician; or
- In any suspicious or unusual manner.
Title 3-309- (a)- Deaths to be Investigated (1)
- Regardless of the duration of the pregnancy, the death occurs before the complete expulsion or extraction of the fetus from the mother; and
- The other is not attended by a physician at or after the delivery.
Title 5-309 (a)(2)- A Medical Examiner Shall Investigate the Death of a Human Fetus if:
If a medical examiner’s case occurs, the police or sheriff immediately shall notify the medical examiner and the State’s Attorney for the county where the body is found and give the known facts concerning the time, place, manner, and circumstances of the death.
Title 5-309 (b)- Notification of Medical Examiner
(not on exam)
Immediately on notification that a medical examiner’s case has occured, the medical examiner or investigator of the medical examiner shall go and take charge of the body. The medical examiner or the investigator shall investigate fully the essential facts concerning the medical cause of death and, before leaving the premises, reduce those facts an the names and addresses of witnesses to writing, which shall be filed in the medical examiner’s office.
Title 5-309 (c)- Investigation by Medical Examiner
(not on exam)
The medical examiner or the investigator shall take possession of and deliver to the State’s Attorney or the State’s Attorney designee any object or article that, in the opinion of the medical examiner, may be useful in establishing the cause of death.
Title 5-309 (d) Evidence
(not on exam)
If the next of kin of the deceased is not present at the investigation, the police officer or sheriff at the investigation or, if a police officer or sheriff is not present, the medical examiner or the investigator shall:
- Take possession of all property of value found on the body;
- In the report of the death, make an exact inventory of the property; and
- Deliver the property to the appropriate sheriff or police department.
Title 5-309 (e)(1)- Personal Property
The sheriff or police department shall surrender the property to the person who is entitled to its possession or custody (they have to open an estate).
Title 5-309 (e)(2)- Personal Property
- If the case involves the unexpected death of a child, the medical examiner shall notify the chairperson of the local child fatality reivew team for the county in which said child resided.
- If the case involves the death of a child and the death is believed to be caused by abuse or neglect, the Office of Chief Medical Examiner shall orally report the findings and deliver a copy of the child’s final autopsy report to the local department of social services and the local law enforcement agency of the county in which the child last resided in accordance with 5-704 of the Family Law Article.
Title 5-309 (f)- Unexpected Death of Child
(not on exam)
Autopsies
Title 5-310
If the cause of death is established to a reasonable degree of medical certainty, the medical examiner who investigates the case shall file in the medical examiner’s office a report on the cause of death within 30 days after notification of the case.
Title 5-310 (a) When the Cause of Death Establsihed
If the medical examiner who investigates a medical examiner’s case considers an autopsy necessary, the Cheif Medical Examiner, a deputy chief medical examiner, an assistant medical examiner, or a pathologist by the Cheif Medical Examiner shall perform the autopsy.
Title 5-310 (b)- Autopsy Required; Exception (1)
If the family of the deceased objects to an autopsy on religious grounds, the autopsy may not be performed unless authorized by the Chief Medical Examiner or by the Chief Medical Examiner’s designee.
Title 5-310 (b)- Autopsy Required; Exception (2)
- In accordance with normal standards of medical practice, the medical examiner performing the autopsy may retain any medical evidence, tissue, or organ needed to carry out the duties of this subtitle.
- The medical examiner shall dispose of any medical evidence, tissue, or organ under subparagraph (1) of this paragraph in accordance with normal standards of medical practice.
Title 5-310 (b)- Autopsy Required; Exception (3)
A medical examiner shall conduct an autopsy of any fire fighter and any sworn personnel of the State Fire Marshal’s Office who dies in the line of duty or as a result of injuries sustained in the line of duty.
Title 5-310 (c)- Autopsy on Fire Fighter (1)
- A toxicological analysis for toxic fumes;
- Gross and microscopic studies of the heart, lung, and any other tissue involved;
- Appropriate studies of blood and urine; and
- Appropriate studies of body fluids and body tissues.
Title 5-310 (c)(2)- The Autopsy Shall Include
(not on exam)
- Investigate to the extent possible the source of the fumes; and
- Prepare a written report on the specific effects of the fumes on human tissue.
Title 5-310 (c)(3)- If the Medical Examiner Determines Toxic Fumes Were the Cause of Death, the Medical Examiner Shall:
(not on exam)
The autopsy and analysis shall be sufficient to determine eligibility for benefits under the federal Public Safety Officers’ Benefits Act of 1976
Title 5-310 (c)(4)
The individual who perfroms the autopsy shall prepare detailed written findings during the progress of the autopsy. These findings and the conclusions drawn from them shall be filed in the office of the medical examiner for the county where the death occurred. The original copy of the findings and conclusions shall be filed in the office of the Cheif Medical Examiner.
Title 5-310 (d) (1)
(Not on Exam)
Except in the case of a finding of homicide, a person in interest as defined in 10-611(e)(3) of the State Government Article may request the medical examiner to correct findings and conclusions on the cause and manner of death recorded on a certificate of death under 10-625 of the State Government Article within 60 days after the medical examiner files those findings and conclusions.
Title 5-310 (d) (2)(i)
(Not on Exam)
If the Cheif Medical Examiner denies the request of a person in interest to correct findings and conclusions on the cause of death, the person in interest may appeal the denial to the Secretary, who shall refer the matter to the Office of Administrative Hearings. A contested case hearing under this paragraph shall be a hearing both on the denial and on the establishment of the findings and conclusions on the cause of death.
Title 5-310 (d) (2) (ii)
(Not on Exam)
The administrative law judge shall submit findings of fact to the Secretary.
Title 5-310 (d) (2) (iii)
(Not on Exam)
After reviewing the findings of the administrative law judge, the Secretary, or the Secretary’s designee, shall issue an order to:
- Adopt the findings of the administrative law judge; or
- Reject the findings of the administrative law judge, and affirm the findings of the medical examiner.
Title 5-310 (d) (2) (iv)
(Not on Exam)
The appellant may appeal a rejection under subparagraph (iv)2 to a circuit court of competent jurisdiction.
Title 5-310 (d) (2) (v)
(Not on Exam)
If the final decision of the Secretary, or the Secretary’s designee, or of a court of competent jurisdiction on appeal, establishes a different finding or conclusion on the cause or manner of death of a deceased than that recorded on the certificate of death, the medical examiner shall amend the certificate to reflect the different finding or conclusion under 4-212 and 2-214 of this article and 10-625 of the State Government Article.
Title 5-310 (d) (2) (vi)
(Not on Exam)
The final decision of the Secretary, or the Secretary’s designee, or of a court under this paragraph may not give rise to any presumption concerning the application of any provision of or the resolution of any claim concerning a policy of insurance relating to the deceased.
Title 5-310 (d) (2) (vii)
(Not on Exam)
If the findings of the medical examiner are upheld by the Secretary, the appellant is responsible for the costs of the contested case hearing. Otherwise, the Department is responsible for the costs of the hearing.
Title 5-310 (d) (2) (viii)
(Not on Exam)
The Cheif Medical Examiner shall set a reasonable fee for performing an autopsy by an authroized pathologist.
Title 5-310 (e)- Fee for Pathologist
(Not on Exam)
Anatomy Board
Subtitle 4
The state anatomy board.
Board
Any research or teaching activity conducted at or under the sponsorship of a hospital or other institution devoted to research, teaching, or study of medicine, dentistry, or any related health profession or advanced human biological science.
Medical Study Program
An officer of this State or of a county or other political subdivision of this State.
Public Officer
Unclaimed Bodies
Title 5-406
- A public officer who has control of a body immediately shall notify the chairman of the Board if, after a reasonable search, the public officer has not found a person who will take control of the body for its final disposition.
- Subject to the limitations imposed on nursing homes under 10-214 of the Human Services Article, any other person who has control of a body may notify the Board if, after a reasonable search, the person has not found a person who will take control of the body for its final disposition.
Title 5-406 (a)- Notice to Board
(not on exam)