| Advisory opinion request from Dr. Carlos A. Irizarry, Webster Parish Coroner, regarding whether he may benefit financially from the issuance, by him or any deputy coroner, of a Coroner's Emergency Certificate (CEC). |
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A CEC is issued when it is determined that a patient will require treatment that extends beyond the seventy-two (72) hour limit of a Physician's Emergency Certificate (PEC) that is issued to commit a patient against their will. Dr. Irizarry is a family physician with a solo practice in Minden as well as the Webster Parish Coroner. He tends to office and hospitalized patients.
Deputy coroners are physicians who are deputized to perform professional services, and they do not serve or function as employees of the Coroner's Office. Also, deputy coroners render an independent professional opinion in regards to CECs. Dr. Irizarry would benefit financially if a patient under his care received a CEC as this would extend the stay within his care.
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La. R.S. 42:1111C(1)(a) prohibits a public servant from receiving any thing of economic value for any service, the subject matter of which is devoted substantially to the responsibilities, programs, or operations of the agency of the public servant and in which the public servant has participated.
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Adopt the proposed advisory opinion.
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| Assigned Attorney: |
Brett Robinson |
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