When a prefectural governor, etc. finds it necessary for investigating the cause of death, the prefectural governor, etc. may have the corpse of a person who has died of a disease that was or is suspected to have been caused by food, additives, apparatus, or containers and packages be autopsied with the consent of the bereaved family.
In the case referred to in the preceding paragraph, when the cause of death cannot be determined without performing an autopsy on the corpse and as a result of not determining the cause, it is likely that serious public sanitation hazards will occur, the prefectural governor, etc. may perform an autopsy on the corpse even without obtaining the consent of the bereaved family, after notifying them.
前項の場合において、その死体を解剖しなければ原因が判明せず、その結果公衆衛生に重大な危害を及ぼすおそれがあると認めるときは、遺族の同意を得ないでも、これに通知した上で、その死体を解剖に付することができる。
The provisions of the preceding two paragraphs must not preclude compulsory dispositions under the provisions concerning criminal proceedings to be made.
前二項の規定は、刑事訴訟に関する規定による強制の処分を妨げない。
When performing an autopsy on a corpse pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) or (2), care must be taken not to lose respect for the deceased.
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food
「食品」
All food and drink, except the pharmaceutical products, quasi-pharmaceutical products and regenerative medicine products defined in the Act on Securing Quality, Efficacy and Safety of Products Including Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices.
Defined inArticle 4, paragraph (1)· applies throughout the law
additives
「添加物」
A substance used in or on food, by adding, mixing, soaking or any other method, in the course of producing food or to process or preserve it.
Defined inArticle 4, paragraph (2)· applies throughout the law
apparatus
「器具」
Tableware, kitchen utensils and other machines, equipment and articles that are used in collecting, producing, processing, cooking, storing, transporting, displaying, handing over or consuming food or additives and that touch the food or additives directly; those used to harvest food in farming and fisheries are not included.
Defined inArticle 4, paragraph (4)· applies throughout the law
containers and packages
「容器包装」
Anything that holds or wraps food or additives and is handed over with them, as it is, when the food or additives change hands.
Defined inArticle 4, paragraph (5)· applies throughout the law
prefectural governor, etc.
「都道府県知事等」
A prefectural governor, the mayor of a city with a public health center (保健所を設置する市), or the mayor of a special ward (特別区).
Short name set inArticle 8, paragraph (1)