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Coroners Act 1997
19BDirections to obtain medical records
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19B Directions to obtain medical records
(1) This section applies if a person has died in any of the circumstances
in relation to which a coroner has jurisdiction to hold an inquest.
(2) A coroner may, by order, direct a person who has responsibility for
or control of any medical records relating to the deceased person,
including someone in charge of a hospital or residential institution, to
give the records to the coroner or the doctor stated in the order.
a person in charge of an aged care facility or residential disability care facility is
directed to give a deceased person’s medical records to the coroner
(3) Unless the coroner otherwise orders, a doctor who is given records
under this section must return the records to the person who gave
them as soon as reasonably practicable after a coroner has, under
section 20 (1) or section 21, dispensed with or completed a
post-mortem examination.
(4) An order under subsection (2) or (3) must be in writing.