Title XXIX, Public Health

The Medical Examiners Commission shall establish medical examiner districts within the state, taking into consideration population, judicial circuits of the state, geographical size of the area of coverage, availability of trained personnel, death rate by both natural and unnatur…

(1)(a) A district medical examiner shall be appointed by the Governor for each medical examiner district from nominees who are practicing physicians in pathology, whose nominations are submitted to the Governor by the Medical Examiners Commission. The term of office of each distr…

(1) A medical examiner may be reprimanded, placed on a period of probation, removed, or suspended by the Medical Examiners Commission for any of the following:(a) Failure to comply with the provisions of this chapter or with the rules of the commission.(b) Misuse or misappropriat…

(1) Fees, salaries, and expenses may be paid from the general funds or any other funds under the control of the board of county commissioners. The district medical examiner shall submit an annual budget to the board of county commissioners.(2) In the event that an examination or …

District medical examiners or associate medical examiners shall be entitled to expert witness fees as provided by law.History.—s. 5, ch. 70-232; s. 4, ch. 81-89.

(1) In any of the following circumstances involving the death of a human being, the medical examiner of the district in which the death occurred or the body was found shall determine the cause of death and shall, for that purpose, make or perform such examinations, investigations…

(1) It is the duty of any person in the district where a death occurs, including all municipalities and unincorporated and federal areas, who becomes aware of the death of any person occurring under the circumstances described in s. 406.11 to report such death and circumstances f…

Upon receipt of such notification pursuant to s. 406.12, the district medical examiner or her or his associate shall examine or otherwise take charge of the dead body and shall notify the appropriate law enforcement agency pursuant to s. 406.145. When the cause of death has been …

(1) As used in this section, the term:(a) “Domestic violence” has the same meaning as in s. 741.28.(b) “Medical examiner” means any district medical examiner, associate medical examiner, or substitute medical examiner acting pursuant to this chapter, as well as any employee, depu…

Any evidence material to the determination of the cause of death in possession of the law enforcement officers assigned to the investigation of the death shall be made available to the medical examiner. It is the duty of the law enforcement officer assigned to and investigating t…

When an unidentified body is transported to a district medical examiner pursuant to this chapter, the medical examiner shall immediately report receipt of such body to the appropriate law enforcement agency, provided such law enforcement agency was not responsible for transportat…

In the absence of the district medical examiner or associate medical examiner, the state attorney of the county may appoint a competent physician to act in their stead.History.—s. 9, ch. 70-232; s. 26, ch. 73-334.

The district medical examiners and associate medical examiners shall obtain professional liability insurance in an amount to be determined by the board of county commissioners of the county or counties served. The fees for such insurance shall be paid from funds appropriated by t…

This chapter supersedes all parts of statutes, general law, and special acts, with which it may be in conflict. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to repeal or amend s. 925.09 or to affect the right of prosecutors to investigate and determine causes of death which, in the…

As used in this part, the term:(1) “Anatomical board” means the anatomical board of the state headquartered at the University of Florida Health Science Center.(2) “Cremated remains” has the same meaning as provided in s. 497.005.(3) “Final disposition” has the same meaning as pro…

(1) A person or entity that comes into possession, charge, or control of unclaimed remains that are required to be buried or cremated at public expense shall immediately notify the anatomical board, unless:(a) The unclaimed remains are decomposed or mutilated by wounds;(b) An aut…

Any contract by a local governmental entity for the final disposition of unclaimed remains must provide for compliance with s. 406.50(2) and require that the procedures in 38 C.F.R. s. 38.620, relating to disposition of unclaimed deceased veterans, are followed.History.—s. 2, ch.…

(1) The anatomical board shall keep in storage all human remains that it receives for at least 48 hours before allowing their use for medical education or research. Human remains may be embalmed when received. The anatomical board may, for any reason, refuse to accept unclaimed r…

A board of county commissioners or its designated county department that receives a report of the unclaimed remains of an indigent person, notwithstanding s. 406.50(1), is not required to notify the anatomical board of the remains if:(1) The indigent person’s remains are decompos…

The anatomical board may not enter into any contract, oral or written, that provides for any sum of money to be paid to any living person in exchange for the delivery of that person’s remains to the anatomical board when the person dies.History.—s. 9, ch. 28163, 1953; ss. 15, 35,…

If any person of sound mind executes a will leaving his or her remains to the anatomical board for medical education or research and the person dies within the geographical limits of the state, the anatomical board may accept and receive the person’s remains.History.—s. 10, ch. 2…

The anatomical board or its duly authorized agent shall take and receive human remains delivered to it as provided in this chapter and shall:(1) Distribute the remains equitably among the medical and dental schools, teaching hospitals, medical institutions, and health-related tea…

(1) The anatomical board may:(a) Adopt a schedule of fees to be collected from the institutions to which the human remains are distributed or loaned to defray the costs of obtaining and preparing the remains.(b) Receive money from public or private sources, in addition to the fee…

A university, school, college, teaching hospital, or institution may not receive any human remains from the anatomical board until its facilities are inspected and approved by the anatomical board. Human remains received by such university, school, college, teaching hospital, or …

When human remains have been used for, and are not of any further value to, medical or dental education or research, the anatomical board or a cinerator facility licensed under chapter 497 may dispose of the remains or any part thereof by cremation.History.—s. 14, ch. 28163, 1953…

(1)(a) The anatomical board may transport human remains outside the state for educational or scientific purposes. This chapter does not prohibit the transport of human remains, any part of such remains, or tissue specimens in furtherance of lawful examination, investigation, or a…