45.17 - Functions, powers and duties of the board.

§ 45.17 Functions, powers and duties of the board.    The  mental  hygiene  medical  review  board  shall have the following  functions, powers and duties:    (a) make a preliminary determination whether the death of a patient or  resident in a mental hygiene facility which  has  been  brought  to  its  attention  is  unusual  or whether such death reasonably appears to have  resulted from other than natural causes and warrants investigation;    (b) investigate the  causes  of  and  circumstances  surrounding  such  unusual  death  or  deaths from other than natural causes of patients or  residents in mental hygiene facilities;    (c) visit and inspect any facility in which such a death has occurred;    (d) cause the body  of  the  deceased  to  undergo  such  examinations  including  an  autopsy  as  in the opinion of the board are necessary to  determine the cause of death, irrespective of whether  such  examination  or autopsy shall have been previously performed;    (e)  upon  review  of  the  cause of and circumstances surrounding the  death, mistreatment, or abuse of any patient  or  resident,  submit  its  report   thereon   to   the  commission  and,  where  appropriate,  make  recommendations to prevent the recurrence of  same  to  the  appropriate  commissioner  of the department of mental hygiene and to the director of  the facility; and    (f) advise the commission on medical issues relevant to the functions,  powers,  and  duties  of  the  commission   including   allegations   of  mistreatment  or  abuse  of  a patient or resident referred to it by the  commission.