Bodies of persons required to be buried at public expense; notice to board; receipt of bodies by board
La. R.S. 17:2274
in effect17:2274. Bodies of persons required to be buried at public expense; notice to board; receipt of bodies by board
A. The superintendents or wardens of hospitals, asylums, penitentiaries or other similar institutions, and all state, parish, or city officials or other persons having custody of the bodies of deceased persons required to be buried at public expense, shall notify the Anatomical Board of the availability of the same, and that there exists no legal prohibition against the release thereof. This notice shall be given not later than thirty-six hours from the death of the person deceased.
B. Upon receipt of this notice, the board may accept the bodies available, and it or its authorized agents shall be permitted to transport the same from any point within the state to its domicile in the city of New Orleans, or its resident offices elsewhere in the state; and, upon receipt of this notice, the board may authorize and allow immediate removal of eyes from the bodies available by qualified medical practitioners when the eyes so removed are to be used for the purpose of advancing medical science or for the replacement or rehabilitation of eyes in living persons. No claim or right of action of any sort in favor of any person and against any doctor, nurse, hospital, or any other person or organization, corporate or otherwise, shall arise out of or result from the removal of eyes from the bodies made available to the board under the terms of this section.
C. All bodies received by the board shall be used solely for the purpose of promoting anatomical knowledge and research or for the replacement or rehabilitation of diseased eyes or other parts of the body or organs of living persons.
D. All expenses incurred in connection with the notice, delivery and transportation of the bodies to the city of New Orleans, or elsewhere, shall be paid by the board. The board shall also assume all the expenses incurred in disposing of the remains of these bodies after the same have been used in accordance with the provisions of this Part.
Amended by Acts 1960, No. 131, §1; Acts 1968, No. 250, §1.
Source: Louisiana State Legislature (legis.la.gov)URL: https://legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=80312Fetched: 10/20/2026