26-4-24 - Autopsies -- Persons eligible to authorize.
26-4-24. Autopsies -- Persons eligible to authorize.
(1) Autopsies may be authorized:
(a) by the commissioner of the Labor Commission or the commissioner's designee asprovided in Section 34A-2-603;
(b) by individuals by will or other written document;
(c) upon a decedent by the next of kin in the following order and as known: survivingspouse, child, if 18 years or older, otherwise the legal guardian of the child, parent, sibling, uncleor aunt, nephew or niece, cousin, others charged by law with the duty of burial, or friendassuming the obligation of burial;
(d) by the county attorney, district attorney, or the district attorney's deputy, or a districtjudge; and
(e) by the medical examiner as provided in this chapter.
(2) Autopsies authorized under Subsections (1)(a) and (1)(d) shall be performed by acertified pathologist.
(3) No criminal or civil action arises against a pathologist or a physician who proceeds ingood faith and performs an autopsy authorized by this section.
Amended by Chapter 375, 1997 General Session