Kansas Statutes Annotated

K.S.A. § 22a-233 (2026)

Autopsy, when; fees and travel allowances; specimens; record and report to coroner and clerk of the district court; exhumation and autopsy

✓ current as of May 2026

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22a-233. Autopsy, when; fees and travel allowances; specimens; record and report to coroner and clerk of the district court; exhumation and autopsy. (a) If, in the opinion of the coroner, an autopsy should be performed, or if an autopsy is requested in writing by the county or district attorney or if the autopsy is required under K.S.A. 22a-242, and amendments thereto, such autopsy shall be performed by a qualified pathologist as may be designated by the coroner. A pathologist performing an autopsy, at the request of a coroner, shall be paid a usual and reasonable fee to be allowed by the board of county commissioners and shall be allowed and paid the travel allowance prescribed for coroners and deputy coroners in accordance with the provisions of K.S.A. 22a-228, and amendments thereto, the same to be paid by the board of county commissioners of the county in which the cause of death occurred except that autopsies performed under K.S.A. 22a-242, and amendments thereto, shall be paid for in accordance with K.S.A. 22a-242, and amendments thereto.

(b) If, in the opinion of the secretary of corrections, warden or administrator of a correctional facility, jail or other institution for the detention of persons accused or convicted of crimes, an autopsy of a person who died while in the custody of such official should be performed, such autopsy shall be performed by a qualified pathologist as may be designated by the secretary of corrections, warden or administrator. A pathologist performing an autopsy pursuant to this subsection shall be paid a fee and travel allowance in the same amount as authorized by K.S.A. 22a-228, and amendments thereto. Such fee and travel allowance shall be paid by the correctional facility, jail or other facility where the death occurred from moneys available therefor. For the purposes of this subsection, custody does not include general supervision of a person on probation, parole, postrelease supervision or constraint incidental to release on bail. This subsection shall not limit the authority of a coroner pursuant to subsection (a).

(c) The pathologist performing the autopsy shall remove and retain, for a period of three years, such specimens as appear to be necessary in the determination of the cause of death.

(d) A full record and report of the facts developed by the autopsy and findings of the pathologist performing such autopsy shall be promptly made and filed with the coroner and with the clerk of the district court of the county in which decedent died. If, in any case in which this act requires that the coroner be notified, the body is buried without the permission of the coroner, it shall be the duty of the coroner, upon being advised of such fact, to notify the county or district attorney, who shall communicate the same to a district judge, and such judge may order that the body be exhumed and an autopsy performed.

History: L. 1963, ch. 166, § 9; L. 1965, ch. 164, § 13; L. 1967, ch. 135, § 1; L. 1975, ch. 158, § 2; L. 1976, ch. 124, § 2; L. 1977, ch. 109, § 13; L. 1978, ch. 91, § 1; L. 1988, ch. 103, § 3; L. 1991, ch. 95, § 1; L. 1992, ch. 312, § 36; L. 1993, ch. 214, § 8; L. 2000, ch. 122, § 1; July 1.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 3 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1997–2022 · leading case: Burroughs v. Thomas, 937 P.2d 12 (Kan. Ct. App. 1997).

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Burroughs v. Thomas, 937 P.2d 12 (Kan. Ct. App. 1997). · cites it 3× “22a-232; K.S.A. 22a-233. Dr. Thomas’ argument is not persuasive.”

Glassman v. Costello, 986 P.2d 1050 (Kan. 1999). “His hiring was authorized by K.S.A. 22a-233, and his report was contended to be admissible as competent evidence under the wording of K.”

Kansas State Bd. of Healing Arts v. Parcells (Kan. Ct. App. 2022). “65-2893; K.S.A. 22a-233. In paragraph 3 of his answer to the Board's petition, Parcells agreed that he did not hold any licenses with the Kansas State Board of Healing Arts.”

— K.S.A. § 22a-233(c) — 1 case

Burroughs v. Thomas, 937 P.2d 12 (Kan. Ct. App. 1997). “22a-232; K.S.A. 22a-233. Dr. Thomas’ argument is not persuasive.”

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