§ 35-5-222 — Facilitation of anatomical gift from decedent whose body is under jurisdiction of coroner

(a) Upon request of a procurement organization, a coroner
shall release to the procurement organization the name, contact
information and available medical and social history of a
decedent whose body is under the jurisdiction of the coroner.
If the decedent's body or part is medically suitable for
transplantation, therapy, research or education, the coroner
shall release post-mortem examination results to the procurement
organization. The procurement organization may make a
subsequent disclosure of the post-mortem examination results or
other information received from the coroner only if relevant to
transplantation or therapy.
(b) The coroner may conduct a medicolegal examination by
reviewing all medical records, laboratory test results, x-rays,
other diagnostic results and other information that any person
possesses about a donor or prospective donor whose body is under
the jurisdiction of the coroner which the coroner determines may
be relevant to the investigation.
(c) A person who has any information requested by a
coroner pursuant to subsection (b) of this section shall provide
that information as expeditiously as possible to allow the
coroner to conduct the medicolegal investigation within a period
compatible with the preservation of parts for the purpose of
transplantation, therapy, research or education.
(d) If an anatomical gift has been or might be made of a
part of a decedent whose body is under the jurisdiction of the
coroner and a post-mortem examination is not required, or the
coroner determines that a post-mortem examination is required
but that the recovery of the part that is the subject of an
anatomical gift will not interfere with the examination, the
coroner and procurement organization shall cooperate in the
timely removal of the part from the decedent for the purpose of
transplantation, therapy, research or education.
(e) If an anatomical gift of a part from the decedent
under the jurisdiction of the coroner has been or might be made,
but the coroner initially believes that the recovery of the part
could interfere with the post-mortem investigation into the
decedent's cause or manner of death, the coroner shall consult
with the procurement organization or physician or technician
designated by the procurement organization about the proposed
recovery. After consultation, the coroner may deny the recovery.
(f) The coroner and procurement organization shall enter
into an agreement establishing protocols and procedures
governing relations between them when the coroner believes that
the recovery of a part for anatomical gift from a decedent whose
body is under the jurisdiction of the coroner could interfere
with the post-mortem investigation into the decedent's cause or
manner of death or the documentation or preservation of
evidence. Decisions regarding the recovery of a part from the
decedent shall be made in accordance with the agreement.
(g) If the coroner or designee denies recovery under
subsection (f) of this section, the coroner or designee shall:
(i) Explain in a record the specific reasons for not
allowing recovery of the part;
(ii) Include the specific reasons in the records of
the coroner; and
(iii) Provide a record with the specific reasons to
the procurement organization.
(h) If the coroner or designee allows recovery of a part
under subsection (d), (e) or (f) of this section, the
procurement organization, upon request, shall cause the
physician or technician who removes the part to provide the
coroner with a record describing the condition of the part, a
biopsy, a photograph and any other information and observations
that would assist in the post-mortem examination.
(j) If a coroner or designee is required to be present at
a removal procedure under subsection (f) of this section, upon
request the procurement organization requesting the recovery of
the part shall reimburse the coroner or designee for the
additional costs incurred in complying with subsection (f) of
this section.