(1) It shall be the duty of the coroner to inquire into and determine the circumstances, manner, and cause of all violent, sudden, unattended, unusual or suspicious deaths. In cases where the coroner conducts an inquiry, the coroner or a deputy shall personally sign the certificate of death. If the death occurred in a state hospital, the coroner shall forward a copy of his or her report to the state agency responsible for the state hospital.
When a coroner reasonably suspects criminal conduct as a cause of death, the coroner shall notify law enforcement of the name of the deceased person and any medical information of the decedent that is directly related to the death. The report shall not include any information contained in the decedent's medical records regarding any other person unless that information is relevant and directly related to the decedent's death.
Coroners shall maintain registries of the names of the deceased, and information including detailed medical reports upon which decision as to cause of death has been based.
The coroner is authorized to assist medical and health service agencies in identifying donors of human organs and tissues, for purposes of providing life-enhancing benefits of transplant surgery to recipients under duly sanctioned medical conditions.
After the coroner's investigation or inquest has terminated, the court shall order the records of confidential communications of deceased person to be sealed as necessary to protect the confidentiality of the decedent's medical or mental health information
