N.D. Cent. Code § 11-19.1-11

11-19.1-11. Autopsies - Notice of results

1. The coroner or the coroner's medical deputy, if the coroner deems it necessary, may

take custody of the deceased human body for the purpose of autopsy. When the

coroner does not deem an autopsy necessary, the sheriff or state's attorney may direct

an autopsy be performed.

2. The autopsy must be performed by the state forensic examiner or by the state forensic

examiner's authorized pathologist at a facility approved by the state forensic examiner.

3. Upon the death of a minor whose cause of death is suspected by the minor's parent or

guardian or the coroner or the coroner's medical deputy to have been the unexplained

sudden death in infant or child with or without intrinsic or extrinsic factors, or both, the

coroner or the coroner's medical deputy, after consultation with the parent or guardian,

shall take custody of the body and shall arrange for the performance of the autopsy by

the state forensic examiner or a pathologist designated by the state forensic examiner,

unless the county coroner, sheriff, state's attorney, and the parent or guardian all agree

that an autopsy is unnecessary. The parents or guardian and the state health officer

must be promptly notified of the results of that autopsy.

4. A report of death, an autopsy report, and any working papers, notes, images, pictures,

photographs, or recordings in any form are confidential but the coroner may use or

disclose these materials for purposes of an investigation, inquest, prosecution, or

inspection by the department of corrections and rehabilitation. The coroner may

disclose a copy of the report of death in accordance with the authority of the state

forensic examiner under section 23-01-05.5 and may disclose an autopsy photograph

or other visual image or video or audio recording subject to limitations in section