THE JEWISH NEWS THIS ISSUE 60(P SERVING DETROIT'S JEWISH COMMUNITY JUNE 17, 1988 / 2 TAMMUZ 5748 House Passes Autopsy Bill KIMBERLY LIFTON Staff Writer Religious objections could stop county medical examiners from per- forming routine autopsies if the Michigan Senate approves legislation passed by the House on Wednesday. A new law would limit rights of medical examiners, who have final authority in determining whether an autopsy should be performed. The unanimous House vote came about a year after State Rep. Maxine Berman first called for more strict limits on autopsy procedures at the urging of the Jewish Community Council. Representatives of the JCCouncil said they lobbied Jewish legislators because they feared that autopsies were performed routinely in the state. Autopsies are prohibited by Jewish law, but Michigan laws does not address religious objections to the procedure. According to Halachah, the body is sacred and should remain in its natural state at the time of burial. "It's a landmark piece of legisla- tion," said Rabbi Elimelech Silberberg, who serves on the ex- ecutive board of the Council of Or- thodox Rabbis. "The holiness of the body is paramount to Judaism. Every religious issue out there makes this an important decision. Anything which follows Halachah is good legislation." Other religions, including Temple Law Suit Ends, Classrooms Approved DAVID HOLZEL Staff Writer Thmple Israel has concluded its five- year legal fight against the designers and builders of its West Bloomfield facility. Also, the 2,000-family congrega- tion voted Tuesday at its annual meeting to add 12 classrooms to its religious school. Temple Israel filed suit to repair what it said were structural defects in its building that led to serious leakage. Architectural firm TMP Associates and builder Etkin, Johnson and Korb, Inc. recently agreed to an undisclosed financial set- tlement that synagogue officials say will be used to repair the building's roof and walls. The three parties accepted recom- mendations of court-appointed Continued on Page 12 Moslems and Christian Scientists, also have objections to autopsies in certain cases. "This has understandably placed many people, particularly in the Jewish community, in an extraor- dinarily difficult and tragic position," Berman said. "There is no reason our autopsy laws cannot be more sen- sitive?' Fred Goldenberg, chairman of the JCCouncil Community Relations Committee, and Jewish legislators said medical examiners throughout the state have too much leeway and perform too many routine autopsies. Goldenberg said no isolated religious incident prompted the in- terest in autopsy laws. Rather, he said, it is a preventative measure to assure people of their first amend- ment rights. Wayne County Medical Examiner Dr. Werner Spitz disagrees. He said any changes to the law are unnec- cessary and would make it difficult for the expert medical examiners to adequately do their jobs. "To make a law like this is total- ly wrong," Spitz said. "They are put- ting the cart before the horse. I know the medical examiner has broad discretion, but shouldn't he?" Spitz said he does not perform autopsies without first talking with survivors. Spitz said he has never done an autopsy in cases where fami- ly members violently objected to the Continued on Page 11 The Heller triplets share a big day at B'nai David ... Page 49. Party Guide Eye On The News CONTENTS PAGE 7 DRUG MYTH Alcohol and drug abuse are eroding the Jewish community belief that 'It can't happen here'