Section 5-501 - Consent for postmortem examination.
§ 5-501. Consent for postmortem examination.
(a) In general.- Consent for a postmortem examination of a body by a physician is sufficient if the consent is given as provided in this section.
(b) Persons authorized to consent.-
(1) The consent may be given by any one of the following persons if that person, whether alone or with another, has assumed control of the body for its final disposition:
(i) A parent;
(ii) A spouse;
(iii) A domestic partner;
(iv) A child;
(v) A guardian;
(vi) A next of kin; or
(vii) In the absence of these persons, any other person.
(2) If a person does not assume control of a body under paragraph (1) of this subsection, the consent may be given by the State Anatomy Board.
(c) Form of consent.- The consent may be in the form of:
(1) A written document;
(2) A telegram; or
(3) A recorded telephonic or other recorded message.
[An. Code 1957, art. 43, § 131; 1982, ch. 21, § 2; 2008, ch. 590.]