N.Y. Public Health Law § 4215: Cadavers; burial after autopsy and dissection

§ 4215. Cadavers; burial after autopsy and dissection. 1. In all cases

in which a dissection has been made, the provisions of this article,

requiring the burial or other lawful disposition of a body of a deceased

person, and the provisions of law providing for the punishment of

interference with or injuries to it, apply equally to the remains of the

body after dissection as soon as the lawful purposes of such dissection

have been accomplished.

2. In all cases in which an autopsy or dissection has been made of an

unclaimed body, the provisions of this article requiring the burial or

other lawful disposition of the body of a deceased person and punishing,

interference with or injuries to it, shall apply equally to the remains

of such body as soon as the lawful purposes of such autopsy or

dissection have been accomplished, except that the persons having

possession of the body may, in their discretion, cause it to be either

buried or cremated, or may retain parts of such body for scientific

purposes.