RCW 68.50.100
Dissection, when permitted—Autopsy of person under the age of three years.
(1) The right to dissect a dead body shall be limited to cases specially provided by statute or by the direction or will of the deceased; cases where a coroner is authorized to hold an inquest upon the body, and then only as he or she may authorize dissection; and cases where the spouse, state registered domestic partner, or next of kin charged by law with the duty of burial shall authorize dissection for the purpose of ascertaining the cause of death, and then only to the extent so authorized: PROVIDED, That the coroner, in his or her discretion, may make or cause to be made by a competent pathologist, toxicologist, or physician, an autopsy or postmortem in any case in which the coroner has jurisdiction of a body: PROVIDED, FURTHER, That the coroner may with the approval of the University of Washington and with the consent of a parent or guardian deliver any body of a deceased person under the age of three years over which he or she has jurisdiction to the University of Washington medical school for the purpose of having an autopsy made to determine the cause of death.
(2) Every person who shall make, cause, or procure to be made any dissection of a body, except as provided in this section, is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.
[ 2007 c 156 § 21; 2003 c 53 § 307; 1963 c 178 § 2; 1953 c 188 § 2; 1909 c 249 § 237; RRS § 2489. Formerly RCW 68.08.100.]
NOTES:
Intent—Effective date—2003 c 53: See notes following RCW 2.48.180.
Structure Revised Code of Washington
Title 68 - Cemeteries, Morgues, and Human Remains
Chapter 68.50 - Human Remains.
68.50.010 - Coroner's jurisdiction over remains.
68.50.015 - Immunity for determining cause and manner of death—Judicial review of determination.
68.50.020 - Notice to coroner or medical examiner—Penalty.
68.50.032 - Transportation of remains directed by coroner or medical examiner—Costs.
68.50.035 - Unlawful to refuse burial to non-Caucasian.
68.50.040 - Deceased's effects to be listed.
68.50.050 - Removal or concealment of body—Penalty.
68.50.060 - Bodies for instruction purposes.
68.50.070 - Human remains—Disposition.
68.50.080 - Certificate and bond before receiving bodies.
68.50.100 - Dissection, when permitted—Autopsy of person under the age of three years.
68.50.101 - Autopsy, postmortem—Who may authorize.
68.50.102 - Court petition for autopsy—Cost.
68.50.103 - Autopsies in industrial deaths.
68.50.105 - Autopsies, postmortems—Reports and records confidential—Exceptions.
68.50.106 - Autopsies, postmortems—Analyses—Opinions—Evidence—Costs.
68.50.107 - State toxicological laboratory established—State toxicologist.
68.50.110 - Burial, cremation, alkaline hydrolysis, or natural organic reduction.
68.50.115 - Coroner and medical examiner liability—Release of information.
68.50.120 - Holding body for debt—Penalty.
68.50.130 - Unlawful disposal of remains.
68.50.140 - Unlawful disturbance, removal, or sale of human remains—Penalty.
68.50.170 - Effect of authorization.
68.50.185 - Individual final disposition—Exception—Penalty.
68.50.200 - Permission to remove human remains.
68.50.210 - Notice for order to remove remains.
68.50.230 - Human remains that have not been disposed—Rules.
68.50.232 - Remains—Entrusting to funeral homes or mortuaries.
68.50.240 - Record of human remains to be kept.
68.50.270 - Possession of human remains.
68.50.290 - Corneal tissue for transplantation—Presumption of good faith.
68.50.300 - Release of information concerning a death.
68.50.310 - Dental identification system established—Powers and duties.
68.50.320 - Procedures for investigating missing persons—Availability of files.
68.50.325 - Indigenous persons—Identification of remains—Spiritual practices.
68.50.900 - Effective date—1987 c 331.
68.50.901 - Application—1993 c 228.
68.50.902 - Application—Construction—1993 c 228.