Delaware § 4712 - Authority to provide corneas to eye banks.

§ 4712. Authority to provide corneas to eye banks.

(a) Upon request of an approved eye bank on behalf of a patient in need of corneal tissue for a transplant, a Medical Examiner is authorized to provide the cornea under the following conditions:

(1) A decedent who may provide a suitable cornea for transplant is under the jurisdiction of the Medical Examiner;

(2) An autopsy will be required;

(3) No objection by the decedent or next of kin is known by the Medical Examiner prior to the removal of the cornea by a representative of an approved eye bank; and

(4) Removal of the cornea for transplant will not interfere with the subsequent course of a postmortem examination or alter the postmortem facial appearance.

(b) For the purposes of this section, “approved eye bank” includes the Medical Eye Bank of Delaware and the Eye Foundation of Delaware Valley.

(c) The Medical Examiner or an approved eye bank, while acting in compliance with this section, shall not be liable to the next of kin of a decedent, whose corneal tissue is removed and donated pursuant to this section, for any civil damages.

62 Del. Laws, c. 396, §  1;  65 Del. Laws, c. 43, §  1;  66 Del. Laws, c. 209, §  3;  81 Del. Laws, c. 358, § 3;