Anatomy Act 1977
12Disposal of bodies
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12 Disposal of bodies
12 Disposal of bodies
(1) The holder of a licence must dispose of any body which is in the holder’s possession for anatomical examination (including any human tissue from that body):
(a) within 4 years after the death of the deceased person, or
(b) in accordance with the terms of an authorisation granted under subsection (2).
Maximum penalty: 10 penalty units.
(2) An inspector may, by instrument in writing, authorise the following:
(a) the retention of a body for anatomical examination for a period specified by the inspector, being a period that does not end more than 8 years after the death of the deceased person,
(b) the retention of human tissue from a body (whether for a specified period or otherwise).
(2A) An inspector must, in exercising his or her functions under subsection (2):
(a) consider the purposes for which retention of the body, or human tissue, is sought, and
(b) ensure that any authorisation granted by the inspector complies with the terms and any conditions of the authority under section 8 or 8A that initially authorised the retention of the body for anatomical examination.
(2B) The holder of a licence must:
(a) comply with any terms or conditions that are imposed by an inspector in granting an authorisation under subsection (2), and
(b) enter in the register kept by the holder opposite the particulars relating to the body the fact that the authority has been given and the terms and conditions to which the authority is subject.
Maximum penalty: 10 penalty units.
(3) Where the holder of a licence disposes of a body which has been in the holder’s possession for anatomical examination, the holder shall dispose of the body as far as practicable in accordance with any wishes of the deceased but if that is not practicable, or if the deceased has expressed no such wishes, the body shall be disposed of as far as practicable in accordance with any wishes of the senior available next of kin of the deceased.
Maximum penalty: 10 penalty units.
(4) The holder of a licence shall, forthwith after disposing of a body which has been in the holder’s possession for anatomical examination, enter in the register kept by the holder opposite the particulars relating to that body: