Michigan introduces cancer presumption bill for medical examiners

A bill introduced Wednesday in Michigan would create a presumption for medical examiners diagnosed with cancer.

H.B. 4764 would provide benefits to full-time, part-time or on-call county medical examiners, deputy county medical examiners and medical examiner investigators who have or had 60 months or more “active service” at the time the cancer manifests and who “is or was exposed to the hazards incidental to fire suppression, rescue, emergency medical services, or subsequent investigation of an incident.”

The presumption would cover “any respiratory tract, bladder, skin, brain, kidney, blood, thyroid, testicular, prostate, or lymphatic, ovarian, breast, or non-HPV cervical cancer,” according to the bill.

If passed, the presumption would apply to cancers diagnosed on or after Jan. 1, 2026.