H.B. 9 Enrolled

REPEAL OF MEDICAL EXAMINER
COMMITTEE
2002 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Sponsor: Neil A. Hansen
This act modifies the Utah Health Code by repealing the Medical Examiner Committee. This
act makes technical corrections.
This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
AMENDS:
26-4-2, as last amended by Chapter 10, Laws of Utah 1991
REPEALS:
26-4-3, as last amended by Chapter 243, Laws of Utah 1996
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 26-4-2 is amended to read:
26-4-2. Definitions.
As used in this chapter:
[(1) "Committee" means the Medical Examiner Committee.]
[(2)] (1) "Death by violence" means death that resulted by the decedent's exposure to
physical, mechanical, or chemical forces, and includes death which appears to have been due to
homicide, death which occurred during or in an attempt to commit rape, mayhem, kidnapping,
robbery, burglary, housebreaking, extortion, or blackmail accompanied by threats of violence,
assault with a dangerous weapon, assault with intent to commit any offense punishable by
imprisonment for more than one year, arson punishable by imprisonment for more than one year,
or any attempt to commit any of the foregoing offenses.
[(3)] (2) "Medical examiner" means the state medical examiner appointed pursuant to
Section 26-4-4 or a deputy appointed by the medical examiner.
[(4)] (3) "Regional pathologist" means a trained pathologist licensed to practice medicine
and surgery in the state, appointed by the medical examiner pursuant to Subsection 26-4-4 (2).
[(5)] (4) "Sudden death while in apparent good health" means apparently instantaneous

death without obvious natural cause, death during or following an unexplained syncope or coma, or
death during an acute or unexplained rapidly fatal illness.
[(6)] (5) "Sudden infant death syndrome" means the death of a child who was thought to be
in good health or whose terminal illness appeared to be so mild that the possibility of a fatal outcome
was not anticipated.
[(7)] (6) "Suicide" means death caused by an intentional and voluntary act of a person who
understands the physical nature of the act and intends by such act to accomplish self-destruction.
[(8)] (7) "Unattended death" means the death of a person who has not been seen by a
physician within the scope of the physician's professional capacity within 30 days immediately prior
to the date of death. This definition shall not require an investigation, autopsy, or inquest in any case
where death occurred without medical attendance solely because the deceased was under treatment
by prayer or spiritual means alone in accordance with the tenets and practices of a well-recognized
church or religious denomination.
[(9)] (8) "Within the scope of the decedent's employment" means all acts reasonably
necessary or incident to the performance of work, including matters of personal convenience and
comfort not in conflict with specific instructions.
Section 2. Repealer.
This act repeals:
Section 26-4-3, Medical examiner committee -- Membership -- Vacancy -- Expenses.

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