44-3-211. Duties of state medical examiner. The duties of the state medical examiner include but are not limited to the following:

(1) providing assistance and consultation to associate medical examiners, coroners, and law enforcement officers;

(2) providing court testimony when necessary to accomplish the purposes of this chapter;

(3) stimulating and directing research in the field of forensic pathology;

(4) maintaining an ongoing educational and training program for associate medical examiners, coroners, and law enforcement officers;

(5) appointing associate medical examiners; and

(6) performing autopsies as requested.