§ 673. Deaths concerning which a coroner, coroner and coroner's
physician or medical examiner has jurisdiction to investigate. 1. A
coroner or medical examiner has jurisdiction and authority to
investigate the death of every person dying within his county, or whose
body is found within the county, which is or appears to be:

(a) A violent death, whether by criminal violence, suicide or
casualty;

(b) A death caused by unlawful act or criminal neglect;

(c) A death occurring in a suspicious, unusual or unexplained manner;

(d) A death while unattended by a physician, so far as can be
discovered, or where no physician able to certify the cause of death as
provided in the public health law and in form as prescribed by the
commissioner of health can be found;

(e) A death of a person confined in a public institution other than a
hospital, infirmary or nursing home.

2. Except as provided in subdivision one of section six hundred
seventy-four of this article, when a coroner is not a physician duly
licensed to practice medicine in this state, the jurisdiction and
authority specified in this section must be exercised jointly by the
coroner and a coroner's physician.