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Post-mortem and special examinations.
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12.—(1) Without prejudice to the power of a coroner holding an inquest to direct a medical witness whom he may summon under section 33 of the Coroners (Ireland) Act, 1846, to make a post-mortem examination of the body of the deceased, the coroner may, at any time after he has decided to hold an inquest, inform the Minister for Justice by writing under his hand that it is in his opinion desirable to have made—
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(a) a post-mortem examination of the body of the deceased; or
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(b) a special examination by way of analysis, test or otherwise of such parts or contents of the body or such other substances or things as ought in the opinion of the coroner to be submitted to analyses, tests or other special examination with a view to ascertaining how the deceased came by his death;
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or to have both such examinations made, at the same time stating his reasons for such opinion; and the Minister for Justice may thereupon appoint a legally qualified medical practitioner to make such post-mortem examination or special examination or may appoint any other person whom he considers to possess special qualifications for making such a special examination as aforesaid to make the special examination.
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(2) If any person who has made such a post-mortem or special examination as aforesaid is summoned by the coroner as a witness he may be asked to give evidence as to his opinion upon any matter arising out of the examination, and as to how in his opinion the deceased came by his death.
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(3) The fee payable in respect of any such post-mortem or special examination shall be a sum not exceeding ten guineas, or such larger sum as the coroner shall with the approval of the Minister for Justice determine, and if the person making such post-mortem or special examination is summoned by the coroner as a witness to attend an inquest he shall be given such further allowance as the coroner with the approval of the Minister for Justice shall determine.
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