Question & AnswerQ&A (PNP MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NUMBER 2014-006)
The main purpose is to provide guidelines and procedures for investigators, SOCO teams, and accredited funeral morgues during the handling, removal, and transfer of cadavers for forensic examination from crime scenes or hospitals to accredited morgues.
Autopsy, also known as postmortem examination or autopsia cadaverum, is a medical procedure consisting of a thorough examination of a corpse to determine the cause and manner of death and to evaluate any present disease or injury.
A Medico-Legal Officer is a trained physician who uses recognized forensic procedures to assist PNP investigators and other agencies by conducting autopsies, physical examinations, and other forensic procedures.
It applies to all Investigators-on-Case at various police levels, members of the Scene of Crime Operations teams, and accredited funeral morgues handling cadavers or human remains involved in cases under investigation.
They must ensure proper turnover of cadavers to the SOCO Team Leader or Medico-Legal Officer for autopsy, secure identification and inventory of personal belongings, prioritize collection of biological samples, place identification tags, and facilitate transport to accredited morgues.
No, PNP personnel are prohibited from referring services of any funeral morgue. The preference of the family shall be given priority, provided the morgue is duly accredited by the PNP.
No, there shall be no fees for autopsy of cadavers or body parts related to criminal cases, corpses with undetermined causes of death, or those declared dead on arrival by hospitals.
The examining Medico-Legal Officer is responsible for releasing the cadaver to the immediate family or nearest kin with proper documentation; if authorized to a funeral parlor, an authorization letter must be presented.
The morgue may store cadavers for no more than 12 hours from the estimated time of death; beyond that, cadavers shall be referred to a PNP accredited morgue for storage and safekeeping.
A letter or waiver requesting non-dissection must be signed by the nearest kin, acknowledging the examination is incomplete compared to a full autopsy; this should be informed to the requesting party by the Medico-Legal Officer.