Rhode Island General Laws 11-20-1.1. Mutilation of dead human bodies – Penalties – Exemptions
(a) Except as provided in this section, a person who dissects or mutilates a dead human body is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than three (3) years, or a fine of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000), or both.
Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 11-20-1.1
- Gift: A voluntary transfer or conveyance of property without consideration, or for less than full and adequate consideration based on fair market value.
- 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.
- person: may be construed to extend to and include co-partnerships and bodies corporate and politic. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-6
(b) This section does not apply to:
(1) A physician or surgeon acting on the order of a court of competent jurisdiction, a coroner or other qualified officer, a licensed funeral director or a licensed embalmer;
(2) Dissection to determine the cause of death when authorized by the nearest living kin of the deceased;
(3) Unclaimed dead human bodies delivered by state or county authorities to regularly chartered institutions for scientific research;
(4) The necessary mutilation incident to embalming a dead human body when authorized by nearest living kin, a court of competent jurisdiction or other qualified officer; or
(5) Conduct authorized by the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act, chapter 18.6 of Title 23.
History of Section.
P.L. 1998, ch. 433, § 1.