P.R. Laws tit. 34, § 3012
When death is produced under the circumstances enumerated in clauses (1)—(11), (13) and (14) of subsection (a) of § 3011 of this title, it shall be mandatory to perform an autopsy in order to determine the cause and manner of such death. In the case of § 3011(a)(14) of this title, it shall be mandatory to perform an autopsy when so ordered by the prosecutor, who shall be notified of all deaths of the kinds specified in this subsection. In all other cases listed in § 3011 of this title, an autopsy shall be performed at the discretion of the forensic pathologist responsible for the investigation whenever any doubts arise about the cause of death or the manner in which it took place, or when, for any reason, such pathologist deems it necessary for the best elucidation of the facts. In the case of both mandatory and discretionary autopsies, the Institute of Forensic Sciences shall incorporate into its database the number of the complaint, if any, assigned by the Puerto Rico Police Department, when the death of any person takes place under some of the situations specified in this chapter, as well as into its report about the results of the autopsy.
In all cases, the Director of the Institute, or any of its forensic pathologists and assistant medical examiners, shall have the authority to perform or order the performance of an autopsy.
History —July 24, 1985, No. 13, p. 689, § 12; Aug. 12, 1995, No. 192, § 2; July 26, 2006, No. 134, § 1; Dec. 29, 2009, No. 200, § 9.