N.Y. Public Health Law § 4222: Removal of corneal tissue for transplant and pituitary gland tissue for the extraction of growth hormone

§ 4222. Removal of corneal tissue for transplant and pituitary gland

tissue for the extraction of growth hormone. 1. Upon request from a

general hospital or medical center for corneal tissue for transplant or

pituitary gland tissue for extraction of growth hormone, the coroner or

medical examiner may then request or authorize an agent to request from

the authorized person under the conditions established in subdivision

two of section forty-three hundred one of this chapter, the

authorization, which may be oral or written according to law, to perform

the removal. Upon receiving such authorization, the coroner or medical

examiner shall authorize the supply of such corneal tissue or pituitary

gland tissue upon the following conditions:

a. The body of the decedent is under the jurisdiction of the coroner

or medical examiner authorizing the removal of the corneal tissue or

pituitary gland tissue.

b. Such removal does not conflict with decedent's religious or other

views.

c. The removal of the cornea for transplant or the pituitary gland for

extraction of growth hormone will not interfere with the subsequent

course of an investigation or autopsy.

d. The removal of the corneal tissue or the pituitary gland tissue

will not alter the post mortem facial appearance of the decedent.

2. The coroner or medical examiner authorizing the removal of corneal

tissue or the pituitary gland tissue pursuant to the provisions of this

section shall not be held liable in a civil action for damages by any

person specified by subdivision two of section forty-three hundred one

of this chapter, for such removal where after the exercise of due

diligence such coroner or medical examiner obtained authorization from

any person specified by subdivision two of section forty-three hundred

one of this chapter.

3. Except where an anatomical gift has previously been requested or

authorized, upon the request of a tissue bank or storage facility as

defined in section forty-three hundred of this chapter, the coroner or

medical examiner may then provide the name of the decedent under his

jurisdiction and the name of the decedent's spouse or other persons

authorized to execute an anatomical gift in accordance with the

provisions of section forty-three hundred one of this chapter.