Section 22. (a) The chief medical examiner shall release to the procurement organization such information as may be necessary to facilitate organ and tissue donation including, but not limited to, the name, contact information and available medical and social history of a decedent whose death has been reported pursuant to chapter 38. If the decedent's body or part is medically suitable for transplantation or therapy, the medical examiner shall release the autopsy reports to the procurement organization; provided, however, that in the case of a suspicious death where the district attorney is controlling the investigation pursuant to said chapter 38, the chief medical examiner or his designee shall not release an autopsy report unless informed by the district attorney that the autopsy report may be released. The procurement organization may make a subsequent disclosure of the postmortem examination results or other information received from the medical examiner only as necessary to facilitate transplantation or therapy.
(b) The medical examiner may conduct a medicolegal examination by reviewing all medical records, laboratory test results, xrays, other diagnostic results and other information that any person may possess about a donor or prospective donor whose death has been reported pursuant to chapter 38 which the medical examiner determines may be relevant to the investigation.
(c) A person that has any information requested by a medical examiner pursuant to subsection (b) shall provide that information as expeditiously as possible to allow the medical examiner to conduct the medicolegal investigation within a period compatible with the preservation of parts for transplantation, therapy, research or education.
Structure Massachusetts General Laws
Part I - Administration of the Government
Chapter 113a - Uniform Anatomical Gift Act
Section 4 - Who May Make Anatomical Gift Before Donor's Death
Section 5 - Manner of Making Anatomical Gift Before Donor's Death
Section 6 - Amending or Revoking Anatomical Gift Before Donor's Death
Section 7 - Refusal to Make Anatomical Gift; Effect of Refusal
Section 8 - Preclusive Effect of Anatomical Gift, Amendment, or Revocation
Section 9 - Who May Make Anatomical Gift of Decedent's Body or Part
Section 10 - Manner of Making, Amending, or Revoking Anatomical Gift of Decedent's Body or Part
Section 11 - Persons That May Receive Anatomical Gift; Purpose of Anatomical Gift
Section 12 - Search and Notification
Section 13 - Delivery of Document of Gift Not Required; Right to Examine
Section 14 - Rights and Duties of Procurement Organization and Others
Section 15 - Coordination of Procurement and Use
Section 16 - Sale or Purchase of Parts Prohibited
Section 17 - Other Prohibited Acts
Section 21 - Cooperation Between Medical Examiner and Procurement Organization
Section 23 - Compliance With Donor's Decision
Section 24 - Uniformity of Application and Construction
Section 25 - Relation to Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act