11-591. Definitions

In this article, unless the context otherwise requires:

1. " Alternate medical examiner" means a physician who has training and competence in the principles of death investigation and who performs or directs the conduct of death investigations.

2. " Autopsy" means a surgical procedure in which internal organs are exposed, removed or examined for the identification of trauma or natural disease.

3. " Death investigation" means the investigation directed by a county medical examiner or alternate medical examiner into the circumstances surrounding a death occurring as prescribed in section 11-593.

4. " External examination" means an external inspection of a body.

5. " Forensic pathologist" means a physician who has successfully completed a pathology residency and a forensic fellowship or has extensive experience performing forensic autopsies in an official capacity.

6. " Investigative information" means information received by a medical examiner or alternate medical examiner from law enforcement, witnesses, family members, health care personnel or medical death investigators concerning cause and manner of death.

7. " Medical death investigator" means a person trained in the principles of death investigation.

8. " Medical examiner" means a forensic pathologist who performs or directs the conduct of death investigations.

9. " Medical information" means information received by a medical examiner or alternate medical examiner concerning the condition of a near-death patient or decedent including medical records, reports of an attending or primary care physician, nurse practitioner, medical death investigator, or organ procurement organizations and physical exams by a medical examiner or alternate medical examiner.

10. " Nurse practitioner" means a person licensed and certified pursuant to title 32, chapter 15.

11. " Organ procurement organization" means an organization located within this state that meets the requirements of section 371 of 42 United States Code section 273.

12. " Physician" means a person licensed pursuant to title 32, chapter 13 or 17.

13. " Tissue bank" means a person that is licensed or regulated under federal or state law or accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting organization to engage in the recovery, screening, testing, processing, storage or distribution of tissue.