MI HB4893

County medical examiners must attempt to notify relatives or representatives if retaining entire organs or limbs from a deceased person, with follow-up written notification required if initial notice is verbal.

County medical examiners may retain body portions necessary to establish cause of death, contributing conditions, manner of death, or as evidence of crime, and must dispose of remaining portions as medical waste under state law.

County medical examiners or designees must keep written records for one year documenting efforts to locate and notify next of kin before conducting autopsy without consent, and efforts to notify regarding retained organs or limbs.

County medical examiners and persons acting under their authority are immune from civil liability for acts or omissions in good faith performance of medical examiner duties regarding body part retention, except in cases of negligence.

Anatomical gifts made under the public health code are exempt from the notification and retention requirements in this amendment.