Colorado § 30-10-606.5 - When autopsy performed - jurisdiction - qualifications to perform - definition.

§ 30-10-606.5. When autopsy performed - jurisdiction - qualifications to perform - definition.

(1) (a) The coroner shall perform a forensic autopsy or have a forensic autopsy performed in accordance with the circumstances in the most recent version of the "forensic autopsy performance standards" adopted by the national association of medical examiners, when the death is apparently nonnatural and occurs in a facility or during services regulated by the department of human services, and when the death is the result of an automobile crash and a hospital physician has not documented the extent of the injuries.

(b) If a person is involved in an incident that requires the person to be transported to a medical facility outside the county where the incident occurred and the person dies en route to or at the medical facility outside the county where the incident occurred, the coroner for the county where the incident occurred shall take possession of the body and shall comply with the provisions of this section.

(2) (a) Except as provided in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this subsection (2), all forensic autopsies required to be performed pursuant to subsection (1) of this section shall be performed by a board-certified forensic pathologist.

(b) A physician who has completed a forensic pathology fellowship and is practicing forensic pathology in Colorado and who is not a board-certified forensic pathologist as of May 4, 2011, may perform a forensic autopsy required pursuant to subsection (1) of this section.

(c) A forensic pathologist who has completed a forensic pathology fellowship may perform forensic autopsies for four years from the date of completion of the fellowship before becoming a board-certified forensic pathologist.

(d) A pathology resident or forensic pathology fellow may perform a forensic autopsy required pursuant to subsection (1) of this section under the direct supervision of a board-certified forensic pathologist.

(e) For purposes of this subsection (2), "direct supervision" means supervision that is within the facility where a pathology resident or forensic pathology fellow is performing an autopsy and that requires a board-certified forensic pathologist's presence and availability for prompt consultation.

Source: L. 2011: Entire section added, (HB 11-1258), ch. 137, p. 477, § 3, effective May 4. L. 2026: (1)(a) amended, (HB 26-1237), ch. 117, p. 470, § 22, effective August 12.

Cross references: For the legislative declaration in the 2011 act adding this section, see section 1 of chapter 137, Session Laws of Colorado 2011.