Texas statute
Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 49A.109 — Deaths requiring inquest by medical examiner
Current through 89th Legislature, 2nd Called Session (2025)
Part of Chapter 49A: DEATH INQUESTS, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure.
Amendment pending: a new version of this section takes effect Thu Apr 01 2027 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time).
Full text of Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 49A.109
Statutory text current through the 89th Legislature, 2nd Called Session (2025). This publication reproduces the official statutory text; it is not the official statutes of the State of Texas.
(a) A medical examiner, or a medical examiner's authorized deputy, shall conduct an inquest if: (1) a person dies within 24 hours after the person is admitted to an institution or in prison or jail; (2) a person: (A) dies an unnatural death from a cause other than a legal execution; or (B) dies in the absence of a good witness; (3) the body or a body part of a person is found and either: (A) the person is identified but the cause or circumstances of death are unknown; or (B) the person is unidentified, regardless of whether the cause or circumstances of death are known; (4) the circumstances of the death of a person indicate that the person may have died by unlawful means; (5) a person dies by suicide or the circumstances of the person's death indicate that the person may have died by suicide; (6) a person dies without having been attended by a physician, and the local health officer or registrar required to report the cause of death under Section 193.005 , Health and Safety Code, does not know the cause of death; (7) a person dies while attended by a physician who is unable to certify with certainty the cause of death as required by Section 193.004 , Health and Safety Code; and (8) the person is a child younger than six years of age and an inquest is required by Chapter 264 , Family Code. (b) When a medical examiner or an employee of the medical examiner receives notice under Article 49A.110 (c) of a death of a person designated as a prospective organ donor for transplantation, the medical examiner or the medical examiner's deputy shall conduct an inquest on the person. (c) The medical examiner, or the medical examiner's authorized deputy, shall conduct an inquest required by Subsection (a) in the county in which the medical examiner was appointed. The inquest may be conducted with or without a jury.
Official sources
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.