# Autopsies
> **US Department of Veterans Affairs** · Final rule. · Published 1996-06-10 · Effective 1996-06-10 · 61 FR 29293
## Document
- **Document number:** 96-14362
- **Category:** va-other
- **Agency:** US Department of Veterans Affairs
- **Federal Register citation:** 61 FR 29293
- **CFR reference:** 38 CFR 17
- **Publication date:** 1996-06-10
- **Effective date:** 1996-06-10
## Abstract

This document amends the autopsies regulations. The regulations in effect prior to the effective date of this document set forth a mechanism for informing the appropriate United States Attorney through a VA Regional Counsel's Office of a death at a VA facility when it is ``suspected that the death resulted from crime or the cause of death is unknown.'' This merely was intended to apply when there was a suspicion that a death resulted from a crime. The words ``or the cause of death is unknown'' are removed based on the determination that they are not necessary to accomplish the intended purpose and could be misunderstood to mean that the autopsy procedures were intended to apply when there is no suspicion of a crime. This document also changes the term ``coroner'' to ``medical examiner/coroner'' to reflect that in the context of the regulations it is appropriate for both names to be used interchangeably.

## Source
- [Federal Register document](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/1996/06/10/96-14362/autopsies)
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