Alaska § 13.52.257 - Facilitation of anatomical gift from decedent whose body is under jurisdiction of coroner or state medical examiner.

§ 13.52.257. Facilitation of anatomical gift from decedent whose body is under jurisdiction of coroner or state medical examiner.

 (a) On request of a procurement organization, a coroner or the state medical examiner may 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 or state medical examiner. If the decedent's body or part is medically suitable for transplantation, therapy, research, or education, the coroner or state medical examiner shall release postmortem examination results to the procurement organization. The procurement organization may make a subsequent disclosure of the postmortem examination results or other information received from the coroner or state medical examiner only if relevant to transplantation or therapy.

 (b) The coroner or state medical examiner 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 or state medical examiner that the coroner or state medical examiner determines may be relevant to the investigation.

 (c) A person who has any information requested by a coroner or the state medical examiner under (b) of this section shall provide that information as expeditiously as possible to allow the coroner or state medical examiner 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 or state medical examiner and a postmortem examination is not required, or the coroner or state medical examiner determines that a postmortem 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 or state medical examiner and the 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 or state medical examiner has been or might be made, but the coroner or state medical examiner initially believes that the recovery of the part could interfere with the postmortem investigation into the decedent's cause or manner of death, the coroner or state medical examiner may consult with the procurement organization, or the physician or technician designated by the procurement organization, about the proposed recovery. After consultation, the coroner or state medical examiner may allow the recovery.

 (f) If the coroner, the state medical examiner, or a designee denies recovery of a part, the coroner, state medical examiner, or designee shall        (1) explain in a record the specific reasons for not allowing recovery of the part;

 (2) include the specific reasons in the records of the coroner or state medical examiner; and

 (3) provide a record with the specific reasons to the procurement organization.

 (g) If the coroner, the state medical examiner, or a designee allows recovery of a part under (d) or (e) of this section, the procurement organization, on request, shall cause the physician or technician who removes the part to provide the coroner or state medical examiner with a record describing the condition of the part, a biopsy, a photograph, and any other information and observations that would assist in the postmortem examination.

 (h) If a coroner, state medical examiner, or designee elects to be present at a removal procedure, on request, the procurement organization requesting the recovery of the part shall reimburse the coroner, state medical examiner, or designee for the additional costs incurred in complying with this section.