21ACoroner may direct preliminary inspection

1. A coroner may direct a pathologist to perform a preliminary inspection of a body.

2. The purpose of a preliminary inspection is to enable the pathologist to advise the coroner about whether to direct a post-mortem under section 31.

3. The pathologist may use medical imaging as part of a preliminary inspection if access to medical imaging technology is readily available.

4. Nothing in this section limits the coroner’s power to direct a post-mortem under section 31.

5. In this section,—

   medical imaging includes, without limitation, X-ray, magnetic resonance imaging, tomography, and ultrasound

   preliminary inspection means an inspection of a body consisting of either or both of the following:

   1. an external visual examination:
   2. the use of medical imaging.