311.1953 Facilitation of anatomical gift from decedent whose body is under
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/ky/311-1953A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
jurisdiction of the medical examiner or coroner.
(a)If a medical examiner or coroner has knowledge that a decedent whose body
is under his or her jurisdiction wishes to be an organ or tissue donor, or upon
request of a procurement organization, a medical examiner or coroner shall
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 medical examiner or coroner.
(b)If the body or part of the decedent identified in paragraph
(a)of this
subsection is medically suitable for transplantation or therapy, the medical
examiner or coroner shall release relevant postmortem examination results to
the procurement organization.
(c)The procurement organization may make a subsequent disclosure of the
postmortem examination results or other information received from the
medical examiner or coroner only if relevant to transplantation or therapy.
(2)The medical examiner or coroner may conduct a medicolegal investigation 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 medical examiner or
coroner that the medical examiner or coroner determines may be relevant to the
investigation.
(3)A person that has any information requested by a medical examiner or coroner
pursuant to subsection
(2)of this section shall provide that information as
expeditiously as possible to allow the medical examiner or coroner to conduct the
medicolegal investigation within a period compatible with the preservation of parts
for the purpose of transplantation or therapy.
(4)If an anatomical gift has been or might be made of a part of a decedent whose body
is under the jurisdiction of the medical examiner or coroner and a postmortem
examination is not required, or the medical examiner or coroner 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 medical
examiner or coroner and the procurement organization shall cooperate in the timely
removal of the part from the decedent for the purpose of transplantation or therapy.
(5)The medical examiner and procurement organizations shall enter into an agreement
setting forth protocols and procedures to govern relations between the parties when
an anatomical gift of a part from a decedent under the jurisdiction of the medical
examiner has been or might be made, but the medical examiner believes that the
recovery of the part could interfere with the postmortem investigation into the
decedent's cause or manner of death. Decisions regarding the recovery of organs,
tissue, and eyes from such a decedent shall be made in accordance with the
agreement. In the event that the medical examiner or coroner denies recovery of an
anatomical gift, the procurement organization may request the chief medical
examiner to reconsider the denial and to permit the recovery to proceed. The parties
shall evaluate the effectiveness of the protocols and procedures at regular intervals.
(6)If the medical examiner or coroner or designee allows recovery of a part under
subsection
(4)or
(5)of this section, the procurement organization, upon request,
shall cause the physician or technician who removes the part to provide the medical
examiner or coroner 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.
(7)If the chief medical examiner or coroner determines that a medical examiner or
designee is required to be present at a removal procedure under subsection
(5)of
this section, upon request the procurement organization requesting the recovery of
the part shall reimburse the medical examiner, or coroner, or designee for the
additional cost incurred in complying with subsection
(5)of this section.