When there is a death the Transportation Department is responsible for the following:

• Transport the body to autopsy morgue:
  • Check ID on body;
  • Check for any personal belongings;
  • Bring the FORM 5012 with current and old medical records to the morgue;
  • Transfer the body onto transport morgue gurney; and
  • Transfer the body to walk-in cooler gurney.
• Record decedent information in Mortuary Record Log Book (Room 517):
  • Enter decedent name;
  • Age;
  • Race/Sex;
  • Date of death;
  • Date and time the body is delivered to the morgue;
  • The body delivered to morgue by: employee signature; and
  • Leave decedent chart or paperwork in room 517.
• Insufficient space in walk-in cooler after hours:
  • Notify Clinical Ops Administrator (COA’s) for assistance; and
  • Transfer body onto tables in the Autopsy rooms

Do not leave any unattended transport morgue gurneys or the top portion of the gurney in the walk in cooler. All transport morgue gurneys must be returned to the Transportation department once the death call has been completed.

When there is a death the Transportation Department is responsible for the following:

• Transport the body to the Body Holding Cooler:
  • Check ID on body;
  • Check for any personal belongings;
  • Transfer the body onto the transport morgue gurney; and
  • Transfer the body in the body holding cooler.
• Record decedent information in Mortuary Record Log Book:
  • Enter decedent name;
  • Age;
  • Race/Sex;
  • Date of death;
  • Date and time is delivered to the bodying holding cooler:
  • Body delivered to body holding area by: employee signature.
• Insufficient space in the Body Holding Cooler:
  • Notify Clinical Operational Administrator (COA’s) / ED Manager for assistance; and
  • Contact the Autopsy Supervisor at UTMB Autopsy Service. Office:
    • (409) 772-2887
    • After Hours: (409) 643-2806

All TDCJ deaths are reported to the TDCJ Warden and Chaplain at ext. 26191 or TDCJ communications ext. 26108. Complete section 2 of the FORM 5012.  The TDCJ Chaplain is responsible for contacting the next-of-kin for autopsy consent and funeral home disposition. 

If the pronouncing physician would like to speak with the family about autopsy, then he/she should contact the Chaplain’s office to obtain contact information. The physician should discuss autopsy procedure, restrictions etc. per section 4 on the Form 5012 and obtain witnessed telephone consent. 

Nursing service will complete all required decedent affairs paperwork. See nursing responsibilities.