Tennessee § 68-3-506 - Authorization for final disposition of a dead fetus.

§ 68-3-506. Authorization for final disposition of a dead fetus.

Prior to final disposition of a dead fetus, regardless of the duration of pregnancy, the funeral director, the person in charge of the institution, or other person assuming responsibility for final disposition of the fetus, shall obtain from the mother authorization for final disposition on a form prescribed and furnished, or approved by the state registrar. When the demise of the fetus is the result of a surgical abortion, a copy of the mother's authorization for disposition, specifying the means of the disposition, shall be appended to the informed consent signed by the mother prior to the procedure pursuant to § 39-15-202. After final disposition, the authorization shall be retained for a period of three (3) years by the funeral director, the person in charge of the institution, or other person making the final disposition. Acts 1977, ch. 128, § 18; T.C.A., § 53-475; Acts 2016, ch. 1003, § 5. Compiler's Notes. Acts 2016, ch. 1003, § 7 provided that notwithstanding this act or the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act, compiled in title 4, chapter 5, any rule promulgated to implement the provisions of this act shall be provided to the chairs of the health committee of the house of representatives and the health and welfare committee of the senate by the secretary of state, after approval by the attorney general and reporter, at the same time the text of the rule is made available to the government operations committees of the senate and the house of representatives for purposes of conducting the review required by § 4-5-226 in order for the health committee of the house of representatives and the health and welfare committee of the senate to be afforded the opportunity to comment on the rule. Amendments. The 2016 amendment substituted “obtain from the mother” for “obtain from the parents” in (a), added (b), and redesignated former (b) as (c). Effective Dates. Acts 2016, ch. 1003, § 8. April 27, 2016. Cross-References. Disposition of dead bodies, title 68, ch. 4. Law Reviews. A Critical Survey of Developments in Tennessee Family Law in 1976-77, IX. Abortion (Neil P. Cohen), 45 Tenn L. Rev. 498.