Victorian Consolidated Legislation

Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine Act 1985 - SECT 66

Functions of the Institute

66. Functions of the Institute



(1) The functions of the Institute are as follows-





   (a)  to provide facilities and staff for the conduct of examinations in
        relation to deaths investigated under the Coroners Act 2008;

   (b)  to conduct chemical, microscopic, serological, toxicological and other
        examinations of tissue and fluids taken from deceased persons coming
        under the jurisdiction of coroners in Victoria;

   (c)  to identify by radiological or odontological examination or other
        means the remains of deceased persons whose deaths are being
        investigated under the Coroners Act 2008;

   (d)  to conduct other appropriate investigations or examinations in
        relation to the cause of death of any person;

   (e)  to properly document and record findings and results of investigations
        and examinations;

   (f)  to provide reports to coroners about the medical causes of deaths and
        the findings and results of investigations and examinations.



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(2) The Institute also has a function to ensure the provision of clinical
forensic medical services to the police force of Victoria and government
bodies in accordance with agreements for services between those bodies and the
Institute.

(3) The Institute also has a function to investigate, assess and instigate
appropriate responses in respect of-

   (a)  the health or safety of a living sibling of a deceased child; and

   (b)  the health of a parent of a deceased child-

where the death of that child constitutes a reviewable death.

(3A) The Institute's function under subsection (3) is not ongoing after the
Institute has completed its investigation and assessment and instigated
appropriate responses in accordance with that subsection.

(4) The Institute also has the following functions-

   (a)  to receive tissue taken in accordance with the Human Tissue Act 1982
        (whether under Part X of that Act or otherwise) from living persons in
        Victoria and to process, store and supply the tissue for
        transplantation to living persons in Victoria or elsewhere or for use,
        in Victoria or elsewhere, for other therapeutic purposes or for
        medical or scientific purposes;

   (b)  to remove tissue, or receive tissue taken, in accordance with the
        Human Tissue Act 1982 from deceased persons in Victoria (whether or
        not a coroner has jurisdiction to investigate the deaths) and to
        process, store and supply the tissue for transplantation to living
        persons in Victoria or elsewhere or for use, in Victoria or elsewhere,
        for other therapeutic purposes or for medical or scientific purposes;

   (c)  to remove tissue, or receive tissue taken, in accordance with a
        corresponding law of another State or a Territory and to process,
        store and supply the tissue for transplantation to living persons in
        Victoria or elsewhere or for use, in Victoria or elsewhere, for other
        therapeutic purposes or for medical or scientific purposes;

   (d)  to receive tissue taken in accordance with a corresponding law of a
        country other than Australia and to process, store and supply the
        tissue for transplantation to living persons in Victoria or elsewhere
        or for use, in Victoria or elsewhere, for other therapeutic purposes
        or for medical or scientific purposes.