A county with a population of 100,000 or more, according to the last official United States census, may establish by appropriate implementing resolution a commission to be known as the medical examiner commission of that county, composed of five members, one of whom must be the chief administrative officer of the county health department who is a permanent member, and four of whom must be appointed by the Governor upon recommendation of the county legislative delegation. The initial terms of the appointive members are as follows: one member for a term of one year, one member for a term of two years, one member for a term of three years, and one member for a term of four years. After the initial terms, all members serve for terms of four years. The effective date of appointments is July first with terms expiring on June thirtieth. The members must serve without compensation. The length of the terms of those who serve first must be determined by lot at the first meeting of the commission.
The commission must meet as soon as practicable after appointment and must organize itself by electing one of its members as chairman and other officers as may be considered necessary. After this first meeting, the commission must meet at least every six months and more often as its duties require, upon the call of the chairman or a majority of its members.
The commission is authorized to adopt and promulgate regulations as it may consider necessary.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 17-162; 1972 (57) 3064; 1973 (58) 101; 1984 Act No. 514; 1996 Act No. 458, Part II, Section 77A; 2001 Act No. 73, Section 1.
Structure South Carolina Code of Laws
Title 17 - Criminal Procedures
Chapter 5 - Coroners And Medical Examiners
Section 17-5-10. Election of coroner.
Section 17-5-30. Official oaths; commission.
Section 17-5-60. Office; book of inquisitions.
Section 17-5-70. Coroner's deputies, appointment and duties.
Section 17-5-90. Coroner may not act under appointment of sheriff.
Section 17-5-100. Coroners must carry out orders of county governing body; fees and costs.
Section 17-5-110. Coroner or deputy coroner may carry pistol or other handgun.
Section 17-5-115. Deputy coroners; training and law enforcement status.
Section 17-5-120. Availability of medical records to coroner of another state.
Section 17-5-140. Funding for full-time county coroners; disbursement of remaining funds.
Section 17-5-220. Establishment and functions of medical examiner commissions in certain counties.
Section 17-5-240. Employment and duties of deputy medical examiners.
Section 17-5-330. Salaries and fees; annual budget.
Section 17-5-510. Duties of coroner and medical examiner.
Section 17-5-520. Authority to order autopsy; request in event of child's death.
Section 17-5-541. Local Child Fatality Review Teams; composition; notifications.
Section 17-5-542. Local Child Fatality Review Teams; purpose; reports.
Section 17-5-543. Meetings of Child Fatality Review Team; confidentiality; penalties.
Section 17-5-555. Reporting certain deaths of vulnerable adults.
Section 17-5-560. Certification of cause of death on death certificate.
Section 17-5-580. Authorization for removal of dead body; penalties; coroner's jury.
Section 17-5-590. Disposition of remains of unidentified dead bodies.