Are autopsy reports public record in Michigan?

You may request medical examiner records under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). ​If you are unable to submit your request online, please mail written FOIA requests to our office. Normal turnaround time for an autopsy report is 6-8 weeks after the autopsy is performed.

How do I find public autopsy reports?

You should contact the clinical information department of the hospital or facility where the post mortem (or autopsy) was conducted. There may be a fee for obtaining a copy of the report.

How do I get an autopsy report in Michigan?

An autopsy report may be obtained from the Medical Examiner’s Office….

1. The Medical Examiner Office processes approximately 3,000 cases each year.
2. The Medical Examiner’s Office is open to handle reports of deaths 24 hours a day, 365 days a year..
3. More than 13,000 incidents of deaths are fielded by the office each year.

Can you view anyone autopsy report?

Doctor’s response. The same rules of doctor-patient confidentiality apply to autopsy examinations as to medical records of living patients. This means that doctors are not allowed to reveal the results of an autopsy examination to third parties without the permission of the next-of-kin of the deceased.

Can you read autopsy reports online?

Research the law in the state where the death occurred to determine whether autopsy reports are considered public record. A good place to start is with the medical examiner’s office or website. Even if the records are not considered public records, the next of kin is entitled to a copy of an autopsy report.

Do they put your organs back in after an autopsy?

At the end of an autopsy, the incisions made in the body are sewn closed. The organs may be returned to the body prior to closing the incision or they may be retained for teaching, research, and diagnostic purposes.

Why do autopsy reports take so long?

But why does it take so long to get a report from a typical autopsy? The answer lies largely in the backlog of the lab which processes autopsy samples, such as toxicology and histology samples, from the procedure.

How long after death can an autopsy be done?

Cina says that autopsies are best if performed within 24 hours of death, before organs deteriorate, and ideally before embalming, which can interfere with toxicology and blood cultures.

How do I get a toxicology report?

In the case of a deceased individual, their toxicology report will form part of the coroner’s autopsy report, which may be obtained from the coroner’s office by request.

What will an autopsy report show?

The autopsy report describes the autopsy procedure, the microscopic findings, and the medical diagnoses. The report emphasizes the relationship or correlation between clinical findings (the doctor’s examination, laboratory tests, radiology findings, etc.) and pathologic findings (those made from the autopsy).

Can I obtain a coroner’s report?

If you want a full copy of the pathologist’s report, you can request this from the coroner’s office, but there may be a fee. In some cases, the report may be sent to a hospital doctor or GP so they can discuss it with you.

Do they remove eyes during embalming?

We don’t remove them. You can use what is called an eye cap to put over the flattened eyeball to recreate the natural curvature of the eye. You can also inject tissue builder directly into the eyeball and fill it up. And sometimes, the embalming fluid will fill the eye to normal size.