<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".18" citation="COMAR 10.35.01.18" title_num="10" subtitle_num="35" chapter_num="01" heading="Deaths in a State-Funded or State-Operated Facility.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>A death in a State-funded or State-operated facility which constitutes a medical examiner's case, as defined in Health-General Article, §5-308, Annotated Code of Maryland, shall be investigated by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Notification and Investigation. The sheriff, police, or chief law enforcement officer, in the jurisdiction where a death occurs, shall notify the medical examiner whenever a death that constitutes a medical examiner's case occurs in a State-funded or State-operated facility. If the death may have occurred by violence, by suicide, by casualty, suddenly when the person was in apparently good health, not attended by a physician, or in any suspicious or unusual manner, the medical examiner or investigator shall:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Respond directly to the administrative head of the facility;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Conduct an investigation;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Complete the investigation report; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Arrange to have the body sent to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for an autopsy, if necessary.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Completion of Investigation Report.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>A medical examiner or investigator shall document in an investigation report all of the information regarding the death that was:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Gathered in the course of the investigation; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Provided by the administrative head of the facility to the sheriff, police, chief law enforcement official, or health officer in the jurisdiction where the death occurred.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>A medical examiner or investigator shall append to an investigation report the written report of the death that the administrative head of the facility provided to the sheriff, police, chief law enforcement official, or health officer in the jurisdiction where the death occurred.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Required Contents of Report. The report of the administrative head of a facility where the death occurred shall contain all the information set out in Health-General Article, §10-713, Annotated Code of Maryland. The report:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>May be oral, if followed by a written report within 5 working days from the date of the death, or written; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Shall contain the following relevant information:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>The name, age, and sex of the deceased;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>The time of discovery of the death;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>The deceased's place of residence at the time of death;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iv)">
          <text>If the death occurred in a place other than the residence of the deceased, the location of the body at the time of discovery;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(v)">
          <text>The place where the body was found;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(vi)">
          <text>The name of the person who took custody of the body;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(vii)">
          <text>The name of the person evaluating the death, if known;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(viii)">
          <text>Whether an autopsy is being performed, if known;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ix)">
          <text>The name, address, and telephone number of the next of kin or legal guardian, if known; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(x)">
          <text>Other information the administrative head of the facility determines should be provided to the medical examiner.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>The report of the investigation by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner constitutes an individual file of the Chief Medical Examiner not subject to disclosure under General Provisions Article, §4-101 et seq, Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>