FINANCIAL RECORDS MAY BE ACCESSED:

These are defined as:
    Any account, voucher or contract dealing with the receipt or disbursement of funds;
    the acquisition, use or disposal of services, supplies, materials, equipment or property
    or the salary or other payments or expenses paid to an officer or employee of the agency, including the name and title of the officer or employee. 

    If the financial record is in the possession of the county, the coroner’s open records officer shall request the record from the county for response to the requestor and if the county makes the copies of the records the duplication fees therefore shall be remitted to the county.

THE FOLLOWING RECORDS MAY NOT BE ACCESSED:

    Specifically exempt under section 708 of the Act, protected by privilege, or exempt from disclosure under any other Federal or State law or regulation or judicial order or decree.

These exceptions to public records of the coroner include:
    Decision making process of an agency
    Investigation exception 
    DNA and RNA samples
    Autopsy records, audiotapes, copies of such reports, photos or videotapes of the
        deceased or autopsy
    Personal privacy, for example,
    Copying of death certificates is not permitted. 35 P.S. §§ 450.901 and 450.902 and
        cannot be accessed by the general public
    Confidential HIV-related information may not be released without a court order. 
        35 P.S. §§ 7607-7608.
    Mental health records may not be released without consent or their contents
        disclosed to anyone. 50 P.S. § 7111(a). Zone v. Friends Hospital 836 A.2d 25, 
        31-32 (PA. 2003).
    The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act specifically prohibits the
         disclosure of individually identifiable health information. HIPPA Regulations at
         §§160.203, 160.204.
    Federal law prohibits the disclosure of social security numbers.
    Information regarding drug and alcohol abuse is restricted by 42 USC § 290dd-2.
    Federal law prohibits the release of certain information concerning victims of abuse.
    Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (108 Stat. 1902 et seq.
    Veterans record information, including name and address are proscribed from general
         public release by 38 USC §§ 5701, 7332.
    Theft of Privacy Concerns.
    Information as to cause and manner of death, including details as to the type of
        injury, place and location of injury, time of injury and a detailed description of 
        how the injury occurred, which could have an impact or bearing on an ongoing
        criminal investigation is not a public record. The Johnstown Tribune Publishing 
        Co. v. Ross, 871 A2d 324 (Pa Cmwlth 2005.)
    In addition, records that are not produced by or requested to be produced by the
        coroner are not subject to release by the coroner, e.g. medical records, accident
        reports, police investigatory reports, photos provided by other agencies.
    Autopsies and autopsy reports are subject to release to persons authorized under 
        16 P.S.§ 1236.1.