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National Health Act, 2003 (Act No. 61 of 2003)

Regulations

Regulations regarding the rendering of Forensic Pathology Service, 2007

Forensic Pathology Service

 

3. The relevant member of the Executive Council of a province must within national policy and in terms of these regulations ensure that a Forensic Pathology Service is established within the respective provincial Department of Health.

 

4. The Service contemplated in regulation 3 includes, but is not limited to—
(a) carrying out a scene of death investigation, and where appropriate, in consultation with an investigating officer;
(b) obtaining information that is relevant to the medico-legal investigation of a death;
(c) taking responsibility for the collection of a body and removal from the scene;
(d) taking custody of a body from the scene of death until released for burial or cremation, and the processes attached thereto;
(e) maintaining evidence relating to a body and any associated items at all times;
(f) assisting, as far as is possible, the process of identification of the deceased;
(g) conducting a post mortem investigation, including external and internal examination of a body and harvesting of material, tissue or fluids for evidentiary or diagnostic purposes;
(h) requesting and conducting appropriate special investigations;
(i) providing medico-legal reports, expert testimony and opinions;
(j) archiving documents, specimens and related materials;
(k) collecting, reviewing and analysing related data to determine trends or prevalence of incidents of unnatural death; and
(l) providing information and advice to health or other government authorities or departments.