New York Laws
Title 2 - Autopsy and Dissection
4214 - Cadavers; Autopsy by Order of Hospital Authorities.

§ 4214. Cadavers; autopsy by order of hospital authorities. 1. The
director or person having lawful control and management of any hospital
in which a patient has died may order the performance of an autopsy upon
the body of such deceased person, after first giving notice of the death
to the next of kin of such person, unless the body is claimed or
objection is made to such autopsy by the next of kin within forty-eight
hours after death, or within twenty-four hours after such notice of
death. In no case shall an autopsy or dissection be performed upon any
body within forty-eight hours after death, unless a written consent or
directive therefor has been received from the person or persons legally
entitled to consent to or order such autopsy or dissection. Except as
required by law, no dissection or autopsy shall be performed on the body
of any person who is carrying an identification card upon his person
indicating his opposition to such dissection or autopsy.

2. In the case of an unclaimed body of a deceased person, the medical
colleges, schools, institutes and universities shall have a priority
claim to the said body, for the purposes of medical, anatomical or
surgical science and study as provided in this article.