21 NCAC 34B .0806          CHAIN OF CUSTODY AND CONTROL

(a)  When removing or transporting a decedent from the location of origin, unless otherwise instructed by a law enforcement official, a licensee shall place an impervious tag on the decedent or the decedent's body bag or disaster pouch, if the decedent is so sealed therein by a law enforcement official prior to the licensee's arrival. The impervious tag shall contain the following:

(1)           The decedent name, if known. Otherwise, the word "unidentified;"

(2)           The name of the county in which the death occurred, if known;

(3)           The date on which the death occurred, if known; and

(4)           The date on which decedent was discovered.

(b)  If the licensee places the decedent in a body bag or disaster pouch, the licensee shall place on the bag or pouch an impervious tag, or otherwise indelibly mark the bag or pouch, with the licensee's name and the information set forth in Subparagraphs (a)(1)-(4) of this Rule.

(c)  When conducting removal or transportation at the authorization of OCME or an ME, the licensee shall not transport or remove a decedent from a location of origin that has been designated by a law enforcement official as a crime scene unless the decedent has been sealed in a body bag or disaster pouch by a law enforcement official, OCME, or an ME.

(d)  A licensee shall transport directly, with no intervening stops unrelated to the transportation, the decedent from the location of origin to the location requested by the individual or entity for whom the licensee has engaged in the removal or transportation. If the licensee is engaged in the removal or transportation of multiple decedents simultaneously, the licensee shall transport each decedent to its respective destination consecutively, without any intervening stops unrelated to the transportation.

(e)  For each removal or transportation performed, a licensee shall give to each individual or entity for whom the removal or transportation is authorized an inventory of all personal belongings found on the decedent, if such an inventory is provided to the licensee upon removal of the decedent from the location of origin, which shall be signed by the licensee. A licensee shall not touch or take possession of any weapon, or controlled substances or paraphernalia that is found among the decedent's personal belongings.

(f)  A licensee shall place any written documentation related to the decedent for which the licensee is entrusted with custody during transportation and removal in an impervious container, if said written documents are in physical contact with the decedent.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 90-210.23(a); 90-210.25(c)(9) and (10);

Eff. February 1, 2025.