J. Whenever human or possibly human remains are discovered not properly interred or disposed of, for which the responsibility to do so cannot be readily determined; or

K. Any cause when there is no attending physician capable of certifying the death as due to natural causes. When a person dies who is under the care of a religious practitioner who uses prayer and spiritual means of healing, the fact that the deceased has been under such religious care does not warrant suspicion of foul play or investigation beyond that warranted by the other facts of the case.; or

L.__Death when the person is a commercial motor vehicle driver and the death occurs during a motor vehicle accident while the driver is operating a commercial motor vehicle within the scope of the driver's employment.

Sec. 2. 22 MRSA §3028, sub-§6, as enacted by PL 1979, c. 538, §8, is amended to read:

6. Examination of body. In all cases except those requiring a report on a body already disposed of and not to be exhumed for examination, the medical examiner shall conduct a thorough examination of the body. In the case of a commercial motor vehicle driver under section 3025, subsection 1, paragraph L, the medical examiner shall conduct a thorough examination of the body and shall conduct toxicology tests.

SUMMARY

The bill adds commercial motor vehicle drivers who die during motor vehicle accidents that occur during the driver's scope of employment to the list of medical examiner cases for autopsy. The bill requires the medical examiner to perform an autopsy and conduct toxicology tests on those commercial vehicle drivers.