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Coroners Act 2006

Deaths to be reported and post-mortems - Release of bodies, and retention and return of body parts and bodily samples

56: Use and disposal of retained parts or samples whose return is not requested

You could also call this:

"What happens to body parts or samples that nobody wants back"

Illustration for Coroners Act 2006

You have a part or sample from a body that was kept under section 48(2) of the Coroners Act 2006. If nobody asked for it back under sections 50 or 51, or if they did ask but cannot be found, it can be used and disposed of. The pathologist can keep and use it for more analysis or for auditing and training. You can use the part or sample for new analysis techniques that were not available before. It can also be used for auditing, evaluating, or training for coronial post-mortems. This does not stop other laws from allowing the part or sample to be kept and used. The pathologist must get rid of the part or sample when it is no longer needed. This must happen as soon as it is reasonably convenient. The pathologist must follow section 54 of the Coroners Act 2006 when dealing with the part or sample.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM377590.

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Part 2Deaths to be reported and post-mortems
Release of bodies, and retention and return of body parts and bodily samples

56Use and disposal of retained parts or samples whose return is not requested

  1. This section applies to a part or sample retained under section 48(2) if—

  2. no request for its return was made under section 50 or 51; or
    1. a request of that kind was made but the part or sample may, under section 55(3), be used and disposed of under this section because the makers of the request cannot, after all reasonable efforts for the purpose have been made, be located.

      1. The part or sample may, to the extent that it has not been destroyed in the course of analysis conducted for the purpose for which it was taken, and without further authority than this section, be retained and used by the pathologist for any or all of the following purposes:

      2. analysis for the purposes of the post-mortem of the part or sample using techniques unavailable when it was performed:
        1. any use that is necessary or desirable for auditing or evaluation of, or training for, coronial post-mortems.

          1. Subsection (2) does not prevent other retention and use authorised by law.

          2. The part or sample must be disposed of by the pathologist as soon as is reasonably convenient if the part or sample—

          3. is not to be retained and used as provided in subsection (2); or
            1. has been retained and used in that way, but is no longer required for a purpose in subsection (2).

              1. This section is subject to section 54.