The relevant laws noted below govern the SF OCME, as advised by the SF City Attorney’s Office.
| Code | Section | Title |
|---|---|---|
Civil Procedure | Photographs, etc., taken in the course of post mortem examination or autopsy; prohibition against reproduction or dissemination; exceptions; personal liability of coroner | |
Government | Enumeration of county officers | |
Government | Medical Examiner; abolition of office | |
Government | Interment of body | |
Government | Sale of personalty of deceased to pay burial proceedings | |
Government | Coroner’s register, requisites | |
Government | Official file in lieu of coroner’s register | |
Government | Delivery of document directing disposal of property and remains of deceased; filing of copy; delivery of original | |
Government | Delivery of personal property of deceased to representatives | |
Government | Locating family; embalming; fee | |
Government | Classification of deaths requiring inquiry; determination of cause; signature of death certificate; exhumation; notice to coroner of cause of death | |
Government | Examination and identification of body; inquiry into cause of death; disposition of body; violations | |
Government | Sudden infant death syndrome; preservation of medical findings; effect of anatomical gift | |
Government | Sudden infant death syndrome; autopsy; development of protocol; liability | |
Government | Implementation of Anatomical Gift Act; human organs; removal and disposition; identification of donors; informing next of kin to donate | |
Government | Retention of body parts for investigation and training; removal of body parts for transplant or therapeutic or scientific purposes | |
Government | Cause of death appearing on certificate; conformity with findings; determination without autopsy | |
Government | Postmortem examination or autopsy of unidentified body or human remains; exhumation of deteriorated or decomposed body or remains; procedures for postmortem examination or autopsy; final report of investigation; collection of retention of tissue and bone samples prior to cremation or burial of unidentified body or remains; procedures for autopsy or postmortem examination with aid of dental examination | |
Government | Forensic autopsy; licensed physician and surgeon required, determination of manner of death; notice to person present in autopsy suite; persons permitted in autopsy suite; availability of additional information | |
Government | Authority of deputy if coroner absent | |
Health and Safety | Right to control disposition of remains; duty and liability for interment; devolution; prior directions of decedent | |
Health and Safety | Interment or disposition of remains by coroner; jurisdiction; costs | |
Health and Safety | Interment of remains by coroner; recovery of expenses | |
Health and Safety | Custody and duty of interment for remains | |
Health and Safety | OCME role in overdose fatality review teams | |
Public Records Act requests | Various | Consult with Division Manager to ensure compliance with state and local disclosure requirements |
SF Administrative Code | Office of the Chief Medical Examiner | |
SF Health Code | Reports regarding drug overdose deaths delegated to OCME (monthly OD Report) |
This list shall be updated from time to time by the office and can be found online in the “Laws governing OCME” section of the City’s website for the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.