PRINTER'S NO. 4017
No. 2963 Session of 1980
INTRODUCED BY FISHER AND CESSAR, OCTOBER 6, 1980
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, OCTOBER 6, 1980
AN ACT
1 Relating to the removal and disposition of pituitary glands
2 during autopsies.
3 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
4 hereby enacts as follows:
5 Section 1. Pituitary gland removal at autopsy authorized.
6 A county coroner or medical examiner performing an autopsy
7 otherwise authorized by law may remove the pituitary gland of
8 the decedent and dispose of it pursuant to section 2 unless any
9 of the following conditions exist:
10 (1) The decedent by his will or other document expressly
11 prohibited the removal.
12 (2) Any of the persons listed in 20 Pa.C.S. § 8602(b)
13 (relating to persons who may execute an anatomical gift)
14 expressly opposes its removal and no person in a prior class,
15 as provided in 20 Pa.C.S. § 8602(b), overrules the person's
16 opposition.
17 (3) The removal or disposition as provided by this act
1 would interfere in any way with an anatomical gift made
2 pursuant to 20 Pa.C.S. Ch.86 (relating to anatomical gifts).
3 Section 2. Disposition of pituitary glands.
4 Pituitary glands removed pursuant to this act shall be
5 delivered to the National Pituitary Agency for use in research
6 and manufacturing of hormones necessary for the physical growth
7 of hypopituitary dwarfs, or to such other agency or organization
8 for similar purposes as authorized by the Humanity Gifts
9 Registry.
10 Section 3. Payments for removal of pituitary glands.
11 Any moneys payable for the delivery of pituitary glands as
12 provided in section 2 may be waived by the coroner or medical
13 examiner. If such moneys are not waived, the proceeds shall be
14 payable directly to the county treasury and no officer or
15 employee of the coroner's or medical examiner's office shall
16 receive any compensation for such removal or disposition except
17 the salaries or fees otherwise payable by law.
18 Section 4. Construction.
19 Nothing in this act shall be construed to prohibit or
20 regulate the removal of pituitary glands when such removal is
21 deemed necessary for the purposes of the autopsy.
22 Section 5. Effective date.
23 This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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