New Hampshire Code of Administrative Rules
Jus - Attorney General, Department of Justice
Chapter Jus 2000 - OFFICE OF CHIEF MEDICAL EXAMINER
Part Jus 2004 - DEATH INVESTIGATIONS
Section Jus 2004.08 - Autopsy

Universal Citation: NH Admin Rules Jus 2004.08

Current through Register No. 12, March 21, 2024

(a) Examination of the remains shall be unrestricted and include, to the extent indicated for the determination of the cause of death and manner of death or the preservation of evidence, any of the following types of examination:

(1) External and internal;

(2) Photographic or any other imaging process;

(3) Dental;

(4) Radiological;

(5) Histological;

(6) Serological;

(7) Toxicological;

(8) Bacteriological;

(9) Virological;

(10) Chemical; and

(11) Any other methodology that might be helpful in determining the cause or manner of death.

(b) The following kinds of samples shall be obtained, upon specific request of a law enforcement agency, from the bodies of those who are known or believed to have been convicted, indicted, or suspected of physical or sexual assault:

(1) Fingerprint;

(2) Scalp, pubic, and beard hair; and

(3) Serological.

(c) If possible, specimens obtained at autopsy for toxicological analysis, if indicated, shall include:

(1) Blood;

(2) Urine;

(3) Bile;

(4) Vitreous;

(5) Gastric content; and

(6) Brain and liver tissue.

(d) All body fluid and tissue samples obtained at autopsy shall be preserved and stored in containers labeled with the following:

(1) The OCME case number;

(2) The name of the deceased, if known;

(3) The date of autopsy; and

(4) The initials of the physician who performed the autopsy.

(e) If possible, fingerprints, and to the extent pertinent to a particular case, palm prints and sole prints, shall be obtained from each:

(1) Victim of an apparent homicide;

(2) Person with one or more felony convictions, upon request from a law enforcement agency;

(3) Person known or believed to have one or more outstanding arrest warrants, upon request from a law enforcement agency; and

(4) Unidentified remains.

(f) If the prints are obtained pursuant to (e), above, by someone from the OCME, the OCME shall provide them to the state police and other investigating law enforcement agencies for all relevant law enforcement purposes.

#8937, eff 7-14-07

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