ORS 146.090
Deaths requiring investigation

(1)

The medical examiner shall investigate and certify the cause and manner of all human deaths:

(a)

Apparently homicidal, suicidal or occurring under suspicious or unknown circumstances;

(b)

Resulting from the unlawful use of controlled substances or the use or abuse of chemicals or toxic agents;

(c)

Occurring while incarcerated in any jail, correction facility or in police custody;

(d)

Apparently accidental or following an injury;

(e)

By disease, injury or toxic agent during or arising from employment;

(f)

While not under the care of a physician during the period immediately previous to death;

(g)

Related to disease which might constitute a threat to the public health; or

(h)

In which a human body apparently has been disposed of in an offensive manner.

(2)

As used in this section, “offensive manner” means a manner offensive to the generally accepted standards of the community. [1973 c.408 §12; 1979 c.744 §4; 1985 c.207 §1]

Source: Section 146.090 — Deaths requiring investigation, https://www.­oregonlegislature.­gov/bills_laws/ors/ors146.­html (accessed May 26, 2025).

See annotations under ORS 146.030 in permanent edition.

146.003
Definitions for ORS 146.003 to 146.189 and 146.710 to 146.992 146.015
State Medical Examiner Advisory Board 146.025
Functions of board 146.035
Chief Medical Examiner 146.045
Duties of Chief Medical Examiner 146.055
Advice 146.065
Local medical examiners 146.075
District office duties 146.080
Assistant district medical examiner 146.085
Medical-legal death investigators 146.088
Officer or employee of public body 146.090
Deaths requiring investigation 146.095
Investigation 146.100
Where death considered to have occurred 146.102
Guidance concerning overdose death communication 146.103
Removal of body, effects or weapons prohibited without consent 146.107
Authority to enter and secure certain premises 146.109
Notification of next of kin 146.113
Authority to order removal of body fluids 146.117
Autopsies 146.121
Disposition of body 146.125
Disposition of personal property 146.135
Authority to order inquest 146.145
Jury of inquest 146.155
Inquest proceedings 146.165
Verdict 146.171
Unidentified human remains 146.174
Medical examiner to provide information about unidentified human remains 146.177
Procedures for investigating missing persons 146.181
Missing persons 146.184
Medical practitioners to provide information about missing persons 146.187
DNA sample 146.189
Use of records to identify human remains and missing persons 146.710
Definition for ORS 146.710 to 146.780 146.730
Investigation 146.740
Reports of medical examiner 146.750
Injuries to be reported to law enforcement agency 146.760
Immunity of participant in making of report 146.780
Confidentiality of records and reports 146.992
Penalties

Current through early 2026

§ 146.090. Deaths requiring investigation's source at oregon​.gov