Queensland Consolidated Acts Queensland Consolidated Acts(1) If the coroner considers it necessary for the investigation of a death, the coroner may, by written notice, require--
(a) an attending doctor--
(i) to be present at the autopsy; or
(ii) to give the coroner a written report to help the doctor who is to conduct the autopsy; or
(b) a person who has any medical records of the deceased person, or tissue samples from the deceased person, to give them to the doctor who is to conduct the autopsy.
Example--
The coroner may require the person in charge of the nursing home in which the deceased person died to release the deceased person's medical records.
(2) The coroner may send the notice to a person by fax or another electronic means.
(3) The person may send a written report or medical records to the doctor by fax or other electronic means.
(4) The person to whom the notice is directed must comply with the notice, unless the person has a reasonable excuse.
Maximum penalty--40 penalty units.
Example--
An attending doctor may refuse to give the coroner a written report if the information in the report would tend to incriminate the attending doctor.
(5) The doctor who conducts the autopsy must return the medical records or tissue samples as soon as reasonably practicable after the autopsy, unless the coroner orders otherwise.
Maximum penalty--40 penalty units.