Indiana § 23-14-31-36 - Time; human remains containing hazardous materials; exceptions

§ 23-14-31-36. Time; human remains containing hazardous materials; exceptions

Sec. 36. (a) Except:

(1) when waived in writing by the city or county health officer where the death occurred; or

(2) as provided in subsection (d);

human remains shall not be cremated less than forty-eight (48) hours after the time of death as indicated on the medical certificate of death or the coroner's certificate.

(b) Except as provided in subsection (a), unless the crematory authority has received specific instructions to the contrary on the cremation authorization form, a crematory authority may schedule the actual cremation to be performed at the authority's convenience at any time after the human remains have been delivered to the crematory authority.

(c) A crematory authority shall not cremate human remains when the authority has actual knowledge that the human remains contain a pacemaker or other material or implant that may be potentially hazardous to the individual performing the cremation.

(d) The mandatory delay of forty-eight (48) hours imposed by subsection (a) does not apply to the cremation of the remains of a person:

(1) who died in another state; and

(2) whose remains are transported to Indiana by:

(A) a licensed funeral director; or

(B) the agent of a licensed funeral director;

for the purpose of cremation at an Indiana crematory;

if the funeral director or funeral director's agent obtains the documents required for cremation by the state in which the death occurred.

As added by P.L.231-1995, SEC.2. Amended by P.L.52-1997, SEC.6.