The state Supreme Court just ruled that autopsy records are open to the public. The state's new right-to-know law, though it generally increased the availability of records, contained an exemption that allowed coroners to keep autopsy reports private.
However, the new law also says it does not supersede a more specific law concerning whether a record is public. The Supreme Court's ruling relates to the Coroner's Act, a more specific law, said Pennsylvania Newspaper Association lawyer Melissa Bevan Melewsky. And that means the right-to-know law's exception can't be used by coroners to keep reports private.
See the Full Disclosure page for the complete Associated Press story.
However, the new law also says it does not supersede a more specific law concerning whether a record is public. The Supreme Court's ruling relates to the Coroner's Act, a more specific law, said Pennsylvania Newspaper Association lawyer Melissa Bevan Melewsky. And that means the right-to-know law's exception can't be used by coroners to keep reports private.
See the Full Disclosure page for the complete Associated Press story.
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