Medical students, residents and fellows in pathology training may now do autopsies under a licensed physician who is "trained" (rather than "board certified") in forensic pathology, and the law now names them among people authorized to do certain medical examiner duties, such as drawing blood after a health worker's exposure and notifying tribes of a member's death.
Official title: medical examiners; authorized persons
- September 12, 2026
What changes
BeforeA county medical examiner could let medical students, residents and fellows in pathology training perform autopsies only under a licensed physician who is board certified in forensic pathology.
NowThey may perform autopsies under a licensed physician who is trained in forensic pathology. The rule for pathologist assistants, who still need a board-certified supervisor, does not change.
BeforeAfter written notice from a health professional's employer about a possible significant exposure to a dead person's blood or bodily fluids, the medical examiner was authorized to draw 2 blood specimens during an autopsy or exam.
NowThe medical examiner or a person authorized to perform the medical examiner's duties may draw the specimens. This includes a medical student, resident or fellow in pathology training supervised by a licensed physician trained in forensic pathology. The medical examiner or that person must release the specimen to the employing agency or entity for testing, but only after a court order. The medical examiner must still destroy it if no order comes within 30 days of collection.
BeforeThe medical examiner or a person "performing" the medical examiner's duties had to notify a federally recognized Native American tribe in Arizona when a deceased person was known to be a member, and if possible finish any required autopsy and return the remains within 4 calendar days of the date of death.
NowThese duties apply to the medical examiner or a person "authorized to perform" the medical examiner's duties, which expressly includes supervised medical students, residents and fellows in pathology training.
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NowOther changes are wording updates only, such as using "decedent" instead of "dead person" and updating the name of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They do not change any rule.
Who it affects
- Medical students, residents and fellows in pathology training
- Licensed physicians who supervise autopsies
- Health professionals and their employers seeking blood testing after a significant exposure to a deceased person
- Federally recognized Native American tribes in Arizona and families of tribal members
- County medical examiners and alternate medical examiners
What you need to do
Nothing.
What the law doesn't answer
- What level or type of training counts as being "trained" in forensic pathology
- Why the supervision standard for pathologist assistants still requires board certification while the one for trainees does not
- How many trainees or counties this will involve
This summary describes the law as enacted. Later laws, court rulings or referendum petitions can change the picture. Check the official text for the current wording.