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County approves coroner agreements to enable cornea harvests and continue postmortem services
Summary
Lewis County approved agreements allowing Lions World Vision Institute use of coroner facilities for cornea harvesting for a fee and renewed contracts with forensic pathologists for postmortem examinations through 2026, the coroner said.
The Board of County Commissioners approved agreements Tuesday that the coroner’s office said will permit cornea harvesting at county facilities and continue contracted forensic pathology services.
Warren McLeod, Lewis County coroner, described Resolution 25-264 as an agreement with Lions World Vision Institute that would allow the institute to use county facilities for cornea harvesting when families authorize donation. McLeod said the institute provides its own technicians and equipment and that the county would charge a facility fee to cover occasional deputy call-in time if a procedure occurs outside regular hours. “They will not be using any county equipment in the harvest,” McLeod said.
McLeod also presented Resolution 25-265 to approve a contract with Pacific Northwest Pathologist for postmortem examinations for 2026 and said the contract will keep rates at this year’s levels for Dr. Lexina. He described Resolution 25-266 as a contract with Dr. Lisonbee Hunt, a board-certified forensic pathologist who is Benton County’s full-time medical examiner and will travel on weekends to perform postmortem exams for Lewis County; that agreement would take effect in October and run through 2026 with rates aligned to the other contract.
The trio of coroner-related items was included in a package of deliberation items the board approved 3-0. County staff said current limitations on transportation and capacity have constrained opportunities for cornea harvests and the new agreement would expand the ability to honor family authorizations for donation.
The contracts and the coroner’s explanation were presented during the deliberation block; the board moved and seconded the cluster of resolutions and approved them by unanimous vote.
