238

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 21

This section is rephrased to exclude the
Commission from the general powers of the
Secretary under § 2-104(f) and (h) of this
article. Similar sections that limit the power
of the Secretary over units in the Department
appear elsewhere in this article. See the
General Revisor's Note to this article.

Defined terms: "Commission" § 5-301
"Department" § 1-101 "Secretary" § 1-101
"Includes"/"including" § 1-101

5-309. MEDICAL EXAMINER'S CASES.

(A)  DEATHS TO BE INVESTIGATED.

(1)  A MEDICAL EXAMINER SHALL INVESTIGATE THE
DEATH OF A HUMAN BEING IF THE DEATH OCCURS:

(I)  BY VIOLENCE;

(II)  BY SUICIDE;

(III)  BY CASUALTY;

(IV)  SUDDENLY, IF THE DECEASED WAS IN
APPARENT GOOD HEALTH OR UNATTENDED BY A PHYSICIAN; OR

(V)  IN ANY SUSPICIOUS OR UNUSUAL MANNER.

(2)  A MEDICAL EXAMINER SHALL INVESTIGATE THE
DEATH OF A HUMAN FETUS IF:

(I)  THE DEATH OCCURS AFTER A GESTATION
PERIOD OF 20 WEEKS OR MORE, BUT REGARDLESS OF THE DURATION
OF THE PREGNANCY, THE DEATH OCCURS BEFORE THE COMPLETE
EXPULSION OR EXTRACTION OF THE FETUS FROM THE MOTHER; AND

(II)  THE MOTHER IS NOT ATTENDED BY A
PHYSICIAN AT OR AFTER THE DELIVERY.

(B)  NOTIFICATION OF MEDICAL EXAMINER.

IF A MEDICAL EXAMINER'S CASE OCCURS, THE POLICE OR
SHERIFF IMMEDIATELY SHALL NOTIFY THE MEDICAL EXAMINER AND
STATE'S ATTORNEY FOR THE COUNTY WHERE THE BODY IS FOUND AND
GIVE THE KNOWN FACTS CONCERNING THE TIME, PLACE, MANNER, AND
CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH.

(C)  INVESTIGATION BY MEDICAL EXAMINER.

IMMEDIATELY ON NOTIFICATION THAT A MEDICAL EXAMINER'S
CASE HAS OCCURRED, THE MEDICAL EXAMINER SHALL GO TO AND TAKE
CHARGE OF THE BODY. THE MEDICAL EXAMINER SHALL INVESTIGATE