Sec. 2855.

(1) An autopsy shall not be performed upon the body of a deceased individual except by a physician who has been granted written consent to perform the autopsy by the person with authority over the burial or disposition of the body under section 3206 of the estates and protected individuals code, 1998 PA 386, MCL 700.3206. This section does not prevent the ordering of an autopsy by a medical examiner or a local health officer.

(2) This section does not apply to a department of anatomy in a school of medicine in this state or to an autopsy, postmortem, or dissection performed pursuant to and under the authority of any other law.

(3) A local health officer may order an autopsy if necessary to carry out the functions vested in a local health department by this code.

(4) A physician, including a medical examiner, performing an autopsy pursuant to subsection (1), (2), or (3) may remove, retain, or use the pituitary gland of the deceased individual if the removal, retention, or use of the pituitary gland is for purposes of medical research, education, or therapy, and the physician is unaware of any direction made by the deceased individual before death or of an objection made by the next of kin of the deceased individual that a part of the deceased individual's body not be removed.

(5) If consent for the performance of the autopsy is required pursuant to subsection (1), the physician shall obtain consent from the same individual for the removal, retention, or use of the pituitary gland of the deceased individual pursuant to subsection (4).

(6) Except for a reasonable charge related to the actual costs incurred and incident to removing and handling the pituitary gland, the removed pituitary gland shall be submitted, without charge, to hospitals, medical education or research institutions, or to individuals or organizations for the purpose of treating another human being. The hospital, medical education or research institution, or other individual or organization receiving the gland shall agree to furnish the gland, or a hormone produced from the gland, without charge.

History: 1978, Act 368, Eff. Sept. 30, 1978 ;-- Am. 1982, Act 3, Imd. Eff. Feb. 4, 1982 ;-- Am. 2006, Act 301, Imd. Eff. July 20, 2006 Popular Name: Act 368