SB68 Summary

• Requires medical examiners in Alabama counties to notify the next of kin through law enforcement when retaining a deceased person's organ or organs for additional testing needed to determine cause or manner of death.

• Prohibits medical examiners from retaining a deceased person's organ or organs for research or any other purpose not related to determining identification, cause, or manner of death without prior notification and approval from the next of kin.

• Applies to all medical examiners performing duties in Alabama counties, including those employed by the Department of Forensic Sciences.

• Creates exceptions to the notification requirement when directed otherwise by the Governor, Attorney General, district attorney, or a circuit court judge.

• Becomes effective on the first day of the third month following passage and approval by the Governor.