AP – New Miss. law sets standards on medical examiners

New Miss. law sets standards on medical examiners

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – Gov. Haley Barbour has signed a bill setting higher standards for Mississippi’s next state medical examiner and others who perform autopsies in criminal investigations.

Starting July 1, state and county medical examiners will have to be doctors certified in forensic pathology by the American Board of Pathology. The law allows someone without those credentials to handle autopsies if a board-certified pathologist isn’t available for a reasonable time.

Mississippi hasn’t had a medical examiner since 1996.

AP
3/26/10