RCW 68.50.101
Autopsy, postmortem—Who may authorize.
Autopsy or postmortem may be performed in any case where authorization has been given by a member of one of the following classes of persons in the following order of priority:
(1) The surviving spouse or state registered domestic partner;
(2) Any child of the decedent who is eighteen years of age or older;
(3) One of the parents of the decedent;
(4) Any adult brother or sister of the decedent;
(5) A person who was guardian of the decedent at the time of death;
(6) Any other person or agency authorized or under an obligation to dispose of the remains of the decedent. The chief official of any such agency shall designate one or more persons to execute authorizations pursuant to the provisions of this section.
If the person seeking authority to perform an autopsy or postmortem makes reasonable efforts to locate and secure authorization from a competent person in the first or succeeding class and finds no such person available, authorization may be given by any person in the next class, in the order of descending priority. However, no person under this section shall have the power to authorize an autopsy or postmortem if a person of higher priority under this section has refused such authorization: PROVIDED, That this section shall not affect autopsies performed pursuant to RCW 68.50.010 or 68.50.103.
[ 2007 c 156 § 22; 1987 c 331 § 57; 1977 c 79 § 1; 1953 c 188 § 11. Formerly RCW 68.08.101.]
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.