The governor has signed into law a bill co-authored by a state senator from Santa Barbara intended to help clarify who can perform autopsies, and who can be present when they are performed.
SB 1189 requires that forensic autopsies be performed by licensed physicians, or surgeons. It also prohibits law enforcement officers involved with the death of a person from being present during the autopsy.
The bill was co-authored by Democratic State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson of Santa Barbara, and Democratic State Senator Dr. Richard Pan of Sacramento. The bill was inspired by some issues in the Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Some autopsies were performed by staff members, raising questions about whether they had the training, or licensing to do so. The controversy led to the dismissal of the county’s Medical Examiner at the time.
