Legislation inspired by concern that autopsies were being performed by Ventura County staff members not properly accredited to conduct them has inspired a proposed new state law which is now on the governor’s desk for his consideration.
SB 1189 would require that forensic autopsies in California can only be conducted by a licensed physician, or surgeon. Trained county personnel under the supervision of a coroner, or physician could take specific sample for criminal investigations. The bill passed by the state legislature was co-authored by Democratic State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson of Santa Barbara.
It comes after a controversy over the way some autopsies were conducted by the Ventura County Medical Examiner’s office, a dispute which led to the dismissal of County Medical Examiner Dr. Jon Smith last year.