A. The state medical investigator shall make reasonable efforts to determine if a deceased person is a member of a federally recognized Indian nation, tribe or pueblo. If a deceased person has been determined to be a member of a federally recognized Indian nation, tribe or pueblo, the state medical investigator shall use all due diligence to avoid an autopsy except when legally required due to possible criminal acts or omissions, an obscure cause of death or other reasons or pursuant to consent given according to the provisions of Section 24-12-4 NMSA 1978. The state medical investigator shall use the least invasive means possible to satisfy the investigator's legal duties in conducting an autopsy.

B. If the state medical investigator determines that an autopsy cannot be avoided, the investigator shall attempt to provide advance notice of the autopsy to the surviving spouse or next of kin, or to the Indian nation, tribe or pueblo of the deceased. The state medical investigator shall provide documentation concerning the autopsy upon request of the surviving spouse or next of kin, or if none is identified, to the Indian nation, tribe or pueblo of which the deceased was a member.

C. If requested by the surviving spouse or the next of kin, or if none is identified, by the Indian nation, tribe or pueblo through an official representative designated pursuant to Subsection E of this section, the state medical investigator shall permit a law enforcement officer of the Indian nation, tribe or pueblo of the deceased to be present during the autopsy. The law enforcement officer attending the autopsy may not interfere with the autopsy procedure and shall follow the health regulations governing autopsy procedures.

D. After any legally required autopsy or postmortem examination has been conducted, the state medical investigator shall use all due diligence to consult with the surviving spouse or next of kin of the deceased regarding the disposition of all of the deceased's remains. Unless other treatment of the remains is required by law, the state medical investigator shall replace all body parts and, if requested, shall provide written certification to the surviving spouse or next of kin of the deceased that the investigator has replaced all body parts.

E. The state medical investigator shall request that each Indian nation, tribe and pueblo located in New Mexico designate, and keep current the designation of, an official representative that the state medical investigator shall contact when it is necessary to contact a tribal representative regarding an autopsy or the disposition of the remains of a deceased member of the Indian nation, tribe or pueblo.

History: Laws 2003, ch. 191, § 2; 2005, ch. 263, § 1.

The 2005 amendment, effective June 17, 2005, deleted the former provision that if a deceased person is a member of a federally recognized Indian nation, tribe or pueblo, the state medical investigator shall use all due diligence after a legally required autopsy or post-mortem examination, to consult with the legal next of kin of the deceased regarding the disposition of all of the deceased's remains, unless other treatment of the remains is provided for by law, and added Subsections A through E to provide for the autopsy of deceased members of an Indian nation, tribe or pueblo and for the disposition of the remains of the deceased.