New Mexico Administrative Code
Title 7 - HEALTH
Chapter 3 - STATE MEDICAL INVESTIGATOR'S OFFICE
Part 2 - POLICIES OF THE OFFICE OF THE MEDICAL INVESTIGATOR
Section 7.3.2.9 - ADMINISTRATION - ORGANIZATION

(1) 24-11-1 NMSA 1978 - There is created the "board of medical investigators" consisting of the dean of the medical school at the university of New Mexico, the secretary of health and environment, the chief of the state police and the chairman of the state board of thanatopractice of the state of New Mexico. The members of the board of medical investigators shall receive no compensation for their services as board members other than as provided in the Per Diem and Mileage Act [10-8-1 to 10-8-8 NMSA 1978].

(2) 24-11-2 NMSA 1978:

(3) 24-11-3 NMSA 1978:

(1) State medical investigator: A licensed physician appointed by the board responsible for developing the rules and regulations for the proper investigation of deaths occurring within the state of New Mexico.

(2) Medical investigator: A forensic pathologist who assists the state medical investigator in the performance of his duties.

(3) District medical investigator: A licensed physician appointed by the state medical Investigator who is responsible for directing the investigations within a particular district in which they practice. This physician is responsible for the certification of death of those OMI cases within his district that remain in that district. This physician is appointed by and serves as requested by the state medical investigator. He is called for assistance in OMI cases and is reimbursed for each case in accordance with the fee schedule maintained by the central office.

(4) Medical investigator district: An area designated by the state medical investigator that generally coincides with boundaries of the respective judicial districts.

(5) Designated pathologist: A licensed physician who is state certified and duly qualified as a pathologist and is appointed by the state medical Investigator. This physician conducts those examinations within his jurisdiction as directed by the state medical Investigator, reporting those findings to the central office of the OMI. Reimbursement for each case is in accordance with the fee schedule maintained by the central office.

(6) Deputy medical investigator: A lay individual appointed and trained by the OMI who responds to the scenes of reportable deaths in order to perform the duties enumerated by law. This individual is specially trained in essential aspects of forensic medicine and death investigation. Deputy medical investigators are required to be available to respond to the scene of an OMI jurisdictional death. More than one deputy medical investigator can be assigned to a district. Deputy medical investigators may also serve as full-time employees who, in addition to performing the stated duties of the deputy medical investigator, perform specialized duties required in the central office. Annual review and biannual training are required for continued certification.

(7) Central office: The central office of the OMI was established within the university of New Mexico, school of medicine, in Albuquerque. The administrative office and repository of official records of the forensic pathology services are provided at this location.