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An Ordinance of the County of Allegheny, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania amending Article 201, Section 5-201.05 of the Administrative Code to further define the powers, functions and duties of the Medical Examiner.
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WHEREAS, on May 17, 2005 the citizens of Allegheny County approved the amendment of the Administrative Code of Allegheny County to abolish the elected office of Coroner and create the appointed office of Medical Examiner through Ordinance No. 38-04; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance No. 38-04, in providing for the powers, functions and duties of the Medical Examiner, retained those powers, functions, and duties previously vested in the office of Coroner as set forth in 16 P.S. §§4232-48; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance No. 38-04 made no specific reference to 16 P.S. §4250, which formerly empowered the coroner to order the removal of organs from a decedent's body for donation purposes in accordance with the guidelines established at 20 P.S., Chapter 86 (relating to anatomical gifts), when a decedent is unidentified or when a decedent's next of kin cannot be identified or reached for consent for organ donation; and
WHEREAS, according to the Center for Organ Recovery and Education (CORE), more than 86,000 people in the United States are awaiting organ transplants, over 17 of whom die each day; and
WHEREAS, according to CORE, between 10,000 and 12,000 individuals die each year who are medically able to donate their organs, but only about 6,000 actually do so; and
WHEREAS, at Allegheny General Hospital, Charleston (WV) Area Medical Center, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh Presbyterian Hospital, the Veteran's Administration Pittsburgh Health Care System, and the West Virginia University Health System alone, more than 1,600 individuals are in need of organ transplants;
The Council of the County of Allegheny hereby enacts as follows:
SECTION 1.
Article 201, Section 5-201.05 of the Administrati...
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