Victorian Numbered Acts

JUSTICE LEGISLATION AMENDMENT ACT 2013 (NO. 31 OF 2013) - SECT 21

In section 66(1) of the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine Act 1985 —

        (a)     after paragraph (a) insert —

    "(ab)     to receive a report of a reportable death or a reviewable death for referral to a coroner or the State Coroner (as appropriate) under Part 3 of the Coroners Act 2008 ;

        (ac)     to receive a request for an investigation by the coroner into a fire under Division 2 of Part 4 of the Coroners Act 2008 and refer that request to the coroner;

        (ad)     on behalf of a coroner, to request and receive information about a death or fire that a coroner is investigating;

        (ae)     to provide assistance and guidance in respect of whether a death is a reportable death or reviewable death to a person who has an obligation to report deaths of that kind under Part 3 of the Coroners Act 2008 ;";

        (b)     in paragraph (f), for "examinations." substitute "examinations;";

        (c)     after paragraph (f) insert —

    "(g)     to gather information to assist a coroner to identify the senior next of kin of a deceased person;

        (h)     to provide information to, and obtain information from, family members of a deceased person for the purposes of a medical examination and the coronial process generally;

              (i)     to receive a request on behalf of a coroner for an autopsy to be performed on a body in the control of the coroner;

        (j)     to take possession of a body on behalf of a coroner and to provide for the release of a body following an order made by a coroner under section 47 of the Coroners Act 2008 ;

        (k)     to request and receive ante-mortem specimens from hospitals in respect of reportable deaths for the purposes of medical examinations;

        (l)     to provide information to, and discuss with, the senior next of kin of a deceased person, the coronial process and in particular explain any medical examination to be performed on the deceased as part of the investigation process;

        (m)     to assist the principal registrar of the Coroners Court to provide information prescribed for the purposes of section 21 the Coroners Act 2008 regarding the coronial process to the senior next of kin of a deceased person and any other person the principal registrar considers to have a sufficient interest in the investigation under section 21(b) of that Act.".

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