§ 20-17-703 - Notice to Department of Anatomy of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.

20-17-703. Notice to Department of Anatomy of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.

(a) Any person in charge of a prison, morgue, hospital, funeral parlor, or mortuary, any person who is a public officer, agent, or employee of the state, any county, or municipality, and all persons coming into possession, charge, or control of any human body which is unclaimed for burial shall notify the head of the Department of Anatomy of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, or his or her designate, as agent for the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, that the body, if unclaimed, is available for use in the advancement or study of medical science.

(b) For the purpose of notifying the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences of its availability, an "unclaimed body" is defined as a human body in the possession, charge, or control of the persons named in subsection (a) of this section for a period not to exceed forty-eight (48) hours, during which time the right of any relative, next of kin, friend, any representative of a fraternal society of which the deceased was a member, or a representative of any charitable or religious group to claim the body for burial purposes is recognized.