Code of Massachusetts Regulations 505 CMR - OFFICE OF THE CHIEF MEDICAL EXAMINER
Here’s a refined overview of 505 CMR, the regulations under the Massachusetts Office of the Chief Medical Examiner:
📂 Chapter Breakdown of 505 CMR
505 CMR 1.00 – Disclosure of Autopsy Reports
Establishes rules for who may receive autopsy reports, including legal next of kin, district attorneys, and approved investigatory bodies (mass.gov).
Section 1.05: Allows disclosure to investigatory bodies if the report is relevant, with DA approval, and a notice stating reports are not public records (casetext.com).
Section 1.06: Mandates immediate report access for the Attorney General or District Attorney upon request (regulations.justia.com).
505 CMR 2.00 – Release of Unclaimed or Unidentified Bodies
Governs how and when bodies without claimants are released, defining procedural standards (mass.gov).
505 CMR 3.00 – Storage and Disposal of Biological Materials
Outlines protocols for preserving, storing, retaining biological specimens (like tissue or fluids), and procedures governing their ultimate disposal. (Not detailed in the search results, but listed in overview) (mass.gov).
505 CMR 4.00 – Cremation (or Burial-at-Sea) Fees
Section 4.03: Requires a $200 fee before cremation or burial-at-sea, after an ME has reviewed the decedent and determined no further inquiry is needed (law.cornell.edu).
📝 Key Takeaways
Autopsy Report Access: Strictly regulated—reports may only be accessed by legally authorized individuals or agencies. Unauthorized disclosure is prohibited (mass.gov).
Unclaimed Bodies: Chapter 2 ensures state custody and responsible release of bodies with no next of kin (casetext.com).
Specimen Handling: Chapter 3 addresses ethical, safe handling and disposal of biological materials.
Cremation Fees: Requires a $200 fee, payable to the Commonwealth, to cover review by a medical examiner and to support the OCME (mass.gov, law.cornell.edu).
📄 Accessing the Full Regulations
You can view and download PDFs for each chapter via the Massachusetts Trial Court Law Libraries portal or the State Bookstore:
505 CMR 1.00 through 4.00 are all publicly available for download (mass.gov).
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