Final answer:
European codes requiring medical opinions in questionable deaths were not formalized until the 19th century, with notable documentation by Italian physicians during a plague outbreak in 1803-04. Laws and regulations continued to evolve with the professionalization of medicine and were significantly shaped by ethical considerations following WWII, leading to robust legal frameworks in the evaluation of deaths.
Step-by-step explanation:
The requirement for medical opinions in questionable deaths in Europe has a long history that can be traced back to various legal developments over the centuries. As early as the 1300s, European scholars and physicians like Guy de Chebulic began to consider the causes of mortality during events like the Black Death. However, the systematic involvement of medical professionals in the evaluation of questionable deaths became more pronounced in the 19th century. For instance, during a plague outbreak in 1803-04, two Italian physicians, Eusebio Valli and Antonio Pezzoli, meticulously documented their observations at Greek hospitals in Istanbul, which highlighted the importance of medical expertise in understanding mortality.
In broader terms, mechanisms requiring medical opinions or intervention in cases of death evolved alongside the professionalization of medicine and advancements in medical technology. By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, laws and regulations concerning mortality and healthcare became more robust, exemplified by various public health laws and ethical guidelines formulated following catastrophic events such as the Holocaust.
The intersection of law, medicine, and ethics continued to develop through the 20th century, marked by instruments like the Nuremberg Code and the establishment of Institutional Review Boards (IRBs). These developments set the stage for current legal frameworks which regulate medical practice, including the consideration of medical opinions in cases of questionable deaths.