1. A medical examiner may permit the removal of a part from a body in the custody of the medical examiner and may release the part for any purpose authorized pursuant to section 142C.5 if the body of the decedent cannot be identified or if the next of kin of the decedent cannot be located, and if all of the following conditions are met:
a. The medical examiner has received a request for the part from a hospital, physician, organ procurement organization, or bank or storage organization.
b. Given the useful life of the specific part, the medical examiner is satisfied that a reasonable effort has been made by the organ procurement organization or bank or storage organization to locate and examine the decedent's medical records and to inform a person specified in section 142C.4 of the option to make or object to the making of an anatomical gift.
c. The medical examiner does not know of a refusal or contrary indication by the decedent or of an objection by a person having priority to act pursuant to section 142C.4 regarding the making of an anatomical gift.
d. The medical examiner does not know that the decedent, at the time of death, was a member of a religion, church, sect, or denomination which relies solely upon prayer for the healing of disease or which has religious tenets that would be violated by the disposition of the decedent's body or part for any of the purposes provided pursuant to section 142C.5.
e. Removal of a part will be performed by a physician, technician, or enucleator.
f. Removal of a part will not significantly alter or compromise the results of any autopsy or investigation.
g. Removal of a part will be in accordance with accepted medical standards.
h. Cosmetic restoration will be performed, if appropriate.
i. The person's death is not a death which affects the public interest as defined in section 331.802, or if the death is a death which affects the public interest, any investigation relating to the decedent's death has been completed.
2. The medical examiner releasing and permitting the removal of a part shall maintain a permanent record of all of the following:
a. The name of the decedent, if available.
b. The date and time of the release of the body or part and the name of the person to whom the body or part was released.
96 Acts, ch 1048, §1
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