In the case of an autopsy performed by or under the authority of the chief medical examiner, county medical examiner or coroner having jurisdiction over the decedent‘s body, the medical examiner or coroner’s physician may, for the purpose of medical research, education or therapy, remove and retain the pituitary gland at the time of autopsy in accordance with the following conditions:

(1) The removal is performed in conjunction with an autopsy under such official’s jurisdiction;
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Terms Used In Tennessee Code 68-30-301

  • Decedent: A deceased person.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • next of kin: includes , in order, the decedent's spouse. See Tennessee Code 68-30-301
(2) The removal will not impede or interfere with the investigation that gave rise to the autopsy, and will not significantly alter post mortem appearance; and
(3)

(A) No objection to the removal of the pituitary gland was evidenced by the decedent prior to the decedent’s death, nor was there objection on the part of the decedent’s next of kin known to the official having jurisdiction over the autopsy.
(B) As used in this part, “next of kin” includes, in order, the decedent’s spouse; or if no competent spouse, the decedent’s adult children; or if no competent spouse or adult children, the decedent’s parents; or if no competent spouse, adult children, or parents, the decedent’s brothers and sisters.
(C) The decedent’s next of kin shall be contacted by telephone or otherwise, and unless there is a specific objection from such kin, a telephone confirmation shall be consent within the requirements of this part.
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