Which states classify autopsy reports as public records and which keep them confidential?
Executive summary
States vary: a minority explicitly treat full autopsy reports as public records (examples cited include Nevada, Maryland, Texas, and Louisiana), while many states restrict access—limiting disclosure to next of kin, law enforcement, or after investigatory exemptions lapse (examples: Connecticut, North Carolina, Washington, D.C.). Sources show nuanced statutory and case-law splits: Nevada’s courts treat autopsy reports as public records [1]; Maryland says autopsy reports are “in most cases” public unless under investigation [2]; Texas and Louisiana generally make reports public but carve out related materials or investigative exemptions [3] [4]; Connecticut explains a framework limiting release to specific parties [5] [3] [6] [7].
1. What the maps and summaries don’t show: a patchwork of rules, not a single rule
There is no single nationwide standard; state laws and court decisions produce a patchwork. Some states expressly designate autopsy reports as public records, others treat them as medical records and restrict disclosure, while still others apply investigatory or privacy exemptions that can keep reports confidential during active probes [8] [9] [3].
2. Clear examples of “public” treatment in state practice
Nevada’s coroner website states autopsy and examination reports are considered public records per Nevada law and Nevada Supreme Court decisions [1]. Maryland’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner explicitly says that, unless a death is under investigation, “in most cases an autopsy report is a public document” [2]. Reporting and statutory summaries also list Texas and Louisiana among states that “generally make autopsy reports public,” subject to limitations on photographs and investigative materials [3] [4].
3. Common limits: next of kin, investigative exemptions, and partial disclosure
Many jurisdictions restrict access to family members, law enforcement, courts, and public-health authorities; they withhold records during active investigations or redact law-enforcement-sensitive material. Connecticut’s OCME says complete records are available to family, government agencies, insurers with legitimate interest, and litigants, but “records are not otherwise open to the general public” [5]. The Reporters Committee and statutory surveys note investigatory exemptions and privacy concerns frequently justify withholding or in-camera judicial review before release [8] [3].
4. Statutes, case law, and administrative practice all matter
Whether an autopsy report is public often hinges on statute language, FOIA/public-records rules, and court interpretations balancing public interest against privacy or investigatory harm. The Reporters Committee briefing highlights that some courts require an in-camera balancing test because autopsy materials “inherently raise significant privacy concerns” [8]. Connecticut’s statutory summary and DC practice show legislators and agencies shape who may obtain full reports and when [3] [7].
5. Recent and evolving changes — watch the states
States update rules and statutes. North Carolina’s OCME posted a notice that Session Law 2025-70 (effective Oct. 1, 2025) amended confidentiality standards for disclosure of certain medical examiner records, illustrating that access rules can change via state law [10]. This signals reporters and researchers must check current agency guidance and recent statutes for each state [6].
6. Practical takeaways for requesters and journalists
Follow three steps: identify the agency (state OCME or local coroner), read that agency’s public guidance (many provide explicit FAQs and request forms), and check whether the case is still “under investigation” — a frequent trigger for non‑disclosure [5] [7] [1]. If records are withheld, statutes or court precedent (often summarized by groups like the Reporters Committee) determine appeal paths and potential redactions [8].
7. Limits of this review and what’s not found in current reporting
This analysis is based on selective state examples and seven noncomprehensive summaries; it does not provide a full state-by-state table in the available material. A comprehensive list of which states classify autopsy reports as public versus confidential is not included in the provided sources (not found in current reporting). Readers should consult each state chief medical examiner/coroner website and recent statutory texts for definitive, up-to-date status [2] [1] [5] [7].
Sources cited above and consulted for this summary include state OCME pages and statutory surveys: Reporters Committee summary of autopsy/coroner records [8], Nevada coroner FAQ [1], Maryland OCME guidance [2], Connecticut OCME FAQ and legislative summary [5] [3], Texas discussion in surveys and guides [4], North Carolina OCME notice of 2025 statutory change [10], and general guides on accessing autopsy reports [11] [9].