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Newport News Police Department
d. A midwife attended stillbirth.
4. The sudden death of a person in apparent good health in the following situations:
a. Apparent instantaneous death without obvious cause.
b. Death during or following unexplained unconsciousness or coma.
c. Death during an acute, unexplained fatal illness.
5. Non-violent death within 24 hours after hospital admission is not necessarily a Medical Examiner's
case. If the probable anatomical cause of death indicates natural causes, the Medical Examiner's
investigation is unnecessary. However, all deaths following injury are reportable to the Medical
Examiner's Office.
6. The on-duty supervisors shall contact the Major Crimes Division commander or designee in
questionable cases.
7. At the time of notification, the investigating officer or Forensic Services Unit member will provide the
Medical Examiner with the following information, if it is known:
a. The subject’s name, address, date of birth, social security number, and occupation.
b. The address where the subject died.
c. When and where the subject was found and by whom.
d. When and where the subject was last seen alive and by whom.
e. The subject’s activities before they died.
f. Medical information about the subject, including history, recent complaints, medications, etc.
g. The funeral home that was selected; and
h. The name and contact information for the next-of-kin.
G. Organ/Tissue Procurement
1. The Virginia Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has signed a memorandum of understanding with
organ/tissue procurement agencies licensed to operate within the Commonwealth of Virginia. This
relationship was established and strengthened in accordance with §§32.1-291.1 through 32.1-291.25
of the Code of Virginia, which provides a mechanism by which individuals or their family members
may donate organs, tissues, and eyes for transplant or research.
2. The Tidewater Office of the Chief Medical Examiner staff usually acts as an intermediary for the Lions
Medical Eye Bank and Life Net Tissue Recovery. The Medical Examiner's Officer will obtain the
deceased's name, personal information, and next-of-kin information from officers. However, there
may be occasions (evenings, weekends, and holidays) when investigating officers may be approached
directly by representatives from these agencies for this information following local medical examiner
approval.
3. In such instances, the regional administrator for the Tidewater Office of the Chief Medical Examiner
has been designated to act as the department’s liaison with these organ/tissue procurement
representatives. The Medical Examiner's Office staff may be reached at any time at their office
number.
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