26-4-23 - Authority of examiner to provide organ or other tissue for transplant purposes.
26-4-23. Authority of examiner to provide organ or other tissue for transplantpurposes.
(1) When requested by the licensed physician of a patient who is in need of an organ orother tissue for transplant purpose, by a legally created Utah eye bank, organ bank or medicalfacility, the medical examiner may provide an organ or other tissue if:
(a) a decedent who may provide a suitable organ or other tissue for the transplant is in thecustody of the medical examiner;
(b) the medical examiner is assured that the requesting party has made reasonable searchfor and inquiry of next of kin of the decedent and that no objection by the next of kin is known bythe requesting party; and
(c) the removal of the organ or other tissue will not interfere with the investigation orautopsy or alter the post-mortem facial appearance.
(2) When the medical examiner is in custody of a decedent who may provide a suitableorgan or other tissue for transplant purposes, he may contact the appropriate eye bank, organ bankor medical facility and notify them concerning the suitability of the organ or other tissue. In suchcontact the medical examiner may disclose the name of the decedent so that necessary clearancescan be obtained.
(3) No person shall be held civilly or criminally liable for any acts performed pursuant tothis section.
Enacted by Chapter 126, 1981 General Session