§ 130A-398. Limitation on right to perform autopsy. - North Carolina Statutes

Part 2. Autopsies.

§ 130A‑398.  Limitationon right to perform autopsy.

The right to perform anautopsy shall be limited to those cases in which:

(1)        The Chief MedicalExaminer or a county medical examiner, acting pursuant to G.S. 130A‑389,directs that an autopsy be performed;

(2)        The Commission ofAnatomy, acting pursuant to G.S. 130A‑415, has given written consent foran autopsy to be performed on an unclaimed body;

(3)        A prosecutingofficer or district attorney, acting pursuant to G.S. 15‑7 in case of homicide,directs that an autopsy be performed;

(4)        The decedent directsin writing prior to death that an autopsy be performed upon the occurrence ofthe decedent's death;

(4a)      The health care agentunder a health care power of attorney with authority to make decisions withrespect to autopsies requests that an autopsy be performed upon the deceasedprincipal;

(5)        The personalrepresentative of the estate of the decedent requests that an autopsy beperformed upon the decedent; or

(6)        Any of the followingpersons, in order of priority, when persons in prior classes are not availableat the time of death, and in the absence of actual notice of contraryindications by the decedent or actual opposition by a member of the same orprior class, authorizes an autopsy to be performed:

a.         The spouse;

b.         Any adult child orstepchild;

c.         Any parent orstepparents;

d.         Any adult sibling;

e.         A guardian of theperson of the decedent at the time of the decedent's death;

f.          Any relative orperson who accepts responsibility for final disposition of the body by othercustomary and lawful procedures;

g.         Any person underobligation to dispose of the body. (1931, c. 152; 1933, c. 209; 1967, c. 1154, s. 4;1969, c. 444; 1973, c. 47, s. 2; 1983, c. 891, s. 2; 2005‑351, s. 5; 2006‑226,s. 32.)