Chapter IV: Judicial autopsies

A judicial autopsy may be ordered as part of a judicial investigation pursuant to articles 60, 74 and 77-1 or a judicial investigation pursuant to articles 156 et seq. It may only be carried out by a practitioner who holds a diploma attesting to his training in forensic medicine or a title justifying his experience in forensic medicine. During a forensic autopsy, the practitioner appointed for this purpose takes any…

When a forensic autopsy has been carried out as part of an investigation or judicial enquiry and the preservation of the body of the deceased is no longer necessary to establish the truth, the competent judicial authority shall issue authorisation to release the body and a burial permit as soon as possible. The practitioner who has carried out a forensic autopsy is required to ensure that the body is restored…

When the biological samples taken during a judicial autopsy are no longer necessary to establish the truth, the competent judicial authority may order their destruction. Destruction is carried out in accordance with the procedures set out in Article R. 1335-11 of the Public Health Code. However, subject to public health constraints and where these samples are the only elements that have enabled the deceased to be identified, the competent judicial…

The procedures for applying the provisions of this chapter shall be specified by decree in the Conseil d’Etat.