This section says which relatives or other listed people may make an anatomical gift of a decedent’s body or part, in priority order, and when a county health officer may release a part of a body in custody.
36-848 - Who may make anatomical gift of decedent's body or part 36-848. Who may make anatomical gift of decedent's body or part A. Subject to the requirements of subsections B and C of this section, and unless barred pursuant to section 36-846 or 36-847, an anatomical gift for transplantation, therapy, research or education may be made by any member of the following classes of persons who is reasonably available, in the order of priority listed: 1. An agent of the decedent at the time of death who could have made an anatomical gift pursuant to section 36-843 immediately before the decedent's death. 2. The decedent's spouse. 3. The decedent's adult children. 4. The decedent's parents. 5. If the decedent is unmarried, the decedent's domestic partner, if another person had not assumed financial responsibility for the decedent. 6. The decedent's adult siblings. 7. The decedent's adult grandchildren. 8. The decedent's grandparents. 9. An adult who exhibited special care and concern for the decedent. 10. The persons who were acting as the guardians of the person of the decedent at the time of death. 11. Any other person who has the authority to dispose of the decedent's body. B. If there is more than one member of a class that is listed in subsection A, paragraph 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 10 of this section who is entitled to make an anatomical gift, an anatomical gift may be made by a member of the class unless that member or a person to which the gift may pass pursuant to section 36-850 knows of an objection by another member of the class. If an objection is known, the gift may be made only by a majority of the members of the class who are reasonably available. C. A person may not make an anatomical gift if, at the time of the decedent's death, a person in a prior class pursuant to subsection A of this section is reasonably available to make or to object to the making of an anatomical gift. D. If the decedent's body is not within the custody of the county medical examiner, the county health officer may release and permit the removal of any part from the body in the county health officer's custody for transplantation, therapy, education or research if the requirements of section 36-860, subsection A, are met.