{"data":{"id":"us-ok/okla.-stat.-tit.-63-63-944","jurisdiction":"us-ok","citation":"Okla. Stat. tit. 63, § 63-944","heading":"Autopsy - Public interest – Deceased children - Collection","body":"of samples.\n\nA. When necessary in connection with an investigation to\n\ndetermine the cause and/or manner of death and when the public\n\ninterest requires it, the Chief Medical Examiner, his or her\n\ndesignee or a district attorney shall require and authorize an\n\nautopsy to be conducted. In determining whether the public interest\n\nrequires an autopsy the medical examiner or district attorney\n\ninvolved shall take into account but shall not be bound by request\n\ntherefor from private persons or from other public officials.\n\nB. Except as provided by subsections C and D of this section, a\n\nparent of a deceased child is entitled to view and to hold the\n\nchild's body before the medical examiner for the county in which the\n\ndeath occurred assumes custody of the body pursuant to Section 938\n\nof this title. If the child's death occurred at a hospital or other\n\nhealth care facility, the viewing may be conducted at the hospital\n\nor facility.\n\nC. A parent of a deceased child may not view nor hold the\n\nchild's body after a medical examiner assumes custody of the body\n\npursuant to Section 941 of this title unless the parent first\n\nobtains the consent of the district judge or medical examiner or a\n\nperson acting on behalf of the district judge or medical examiner.\n\nD. A viewing or holding of the body of a deceased child whose\n\ndeath is determined to be subject to an investigation under Section\n\n938 of this title must be conducted in compliance with the following\n\nconditions:\n\n1. The viewing or holding must be supervised by:\n\na. a peace officer or, with the officer's consent, a\n\nperson described by subparagraph b of this paragraph,\n\nif law enforcement has assumed custody of the body at\n\nthe time of the viewing or holding, or\n\nb. a physician, registered nurse, licensed vocational\n\nnurse, the medical examiner, or a person acting on\n\nbehalf of the medical examiner;\n\n2. A parent of the deceased child may not have contact with the\n\nchild's body unless the parent first obtains the consent of the\n\nmedical examiner or his or her designee; and\n\n3. A person may not remove a medical device from the child's\n\nbody or otherwise alter the condition of the body for purposes of\n\nconducting the viewing or holding unless the person first obtains\n\nthe consent of the medical examiner or his or her designee.\n\nE. The medical examiner or his or her designee may collect and\n\nretain such blood, tissue, bone, fluid or body waste specimens as\n\nare deemed necessary to carry out his or her duties as specified in\n\nSection 931 et seq. of this title. No autopsy authorization shall\n\nbe required as a prerequisite to the collection of such specimens.","path":["OK Code","Title 63"],"source_url":"https://www.oklegislature.gov/OK_Statutes/CompleteTitles/os63.pdf","current_through":"2026-08-14","vintage":"open-us-law v2026.08, retrieved 2026-09-14","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T18:32:36Z","sha256":"6f13817bc866e6ac720de4a194625b34a7eb785355129e24e3dbeb7a01e9052d","source_id":"us-ok","stale":false,"prev":"us-ok/okla.-stat.-tit.-63-63-942a","next":"us-ok/okla.-stat.-tit.-63-63-944.2"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}