Section 146.135 – Authority to order inquest.
(1) The district attorney for the county where the death occurs may order an inquest to obtain a jury finding of the cause and manner of death in any case requiring investigation. (2) For the purpose of conducting an inquest, the district attorney shall have the powers of a judicial officer as described by ORS […]
Section 146.145 – Jury of inquest.
(1) The district attorney shall order the inquest to be held at a specified time and place and as provided in ORS 10.810 and 10.820 shall summon a jury of inquest to inquire into the cause and manner of death. (2) Upon receipt of a copy of the order of inquest, the sheriff shall select, […]
Section 146.155 – Inquest proceedings.
(1) The six members of the jury of inquest shall be sworn by the district attorney to: (a) Inquire into who the deceased person was, when and where the deceased person came to death, the cause of death and the manner of death. (b) Give a true verdict thereof according to the evidence produced during […]
Section 146.165 – Verdict; findings; testimony and verdict of inquest as admissible evidence in subsequent proceedings.
(1) The jury shall give its verdict in writing, signed by its members, setting forth its findings from the evidence produced: (a) Who the deceased person was; (b) When and where the deceased person came to death; (c) The cause of death; and (d) The manner of death. (2) The verdict of a jury of […]
Section 146.100 – Where death considered to have occurred; notification of death required.
(1) Death investigations shall be under the direction of the district medical examiner and the district attorney for the county where the death occurs. (2) For purposes of ORS 146.003 to 146.189, if the county where death occurs is unknown, the death shall be deemed to have occurred in the county where the body is […]
Section 146.103 – Removal of body, effects or weapons prohibited without consent.
(1) In a death requiring an investigation, no person shall move a human body or body suspected of being human, or remove any of the effects of the deceased or instruments or weapons related to the death without the permission of a medical examiner, medical-legal death investigator or the district attorney. (2) No person shall […]
Section 146.107 – Authority to enter and secure certain premises; court order.
(1) A medical examiner, medical-legal death investigator or district attorney may enter any room, dwelling, building or other place in which the medical examiner, medical-legal death investigator or district attorney has reasonable cause to believe that a body or evidence of the circumstances of death requiring investigation may be found. (2) If refused entry, the […]
Section 146.109 – Notification of next of kin.
(1) Upon identifying the body, the medical examiner shall immediately attempt to locate the next of kin or responsible friends to obtain the designation of a funeral home to which the deceased is to be taken. (2) If unable to promptly obtain a designation of funeral home from the next of kin or responsible friends, […]
Section 146.113 – Authority to order removal of body fluids.
(1) A medical examiner or district attorney may, in any death requiring investigation, order samples of blood or urine taken for laboratory analysis. (2) When a death requiring an investigation as a result of a motor vehicle accident occurs within five hours after the accident and the deceased is over 13 years of age, a […]
Section 146.117 – Autopsies.
(1) A medical examiner or district attorney may order an autopsy performed in any death requiring investigation. This authorization for an autopsy shall permit the pathologist to remove and retain body tissues or organs from the deceased for the purpose of the legal or medical determination of the manner or cause of death, or other […]