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§ 5-502. Authorization for cremation

West's Annotated Code of MarylandHealth--General

West's Annotated Code of Maryland
Health--General
Title 5. Death (Refs & Annos)
Subtitle 5. Miscellaneous Provisions (Refs & Annos)
MD Code, Health - General, § 5-502
§ 5-502. Authorization for cremation
Scope of section
(a) This section does not apply to the disposition of a body by a school of medicine or dentistry.
Identification of body
(b) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a person may not cremate a body until it has been identified by:
(1) The next of kin;
(2) A person who is authorized to arrange for final disposition of the body under §§ 5-508 through 5-512 of this subtitle; or
(3) A medical examiner.
Delegation of final disposition of body
(c) If a person who is authorized to arrange for final disposition of a body is not available to identify the body and authorize cremation, that person may delegate that authority to another person by sending to the delegate an electronic communication that contains the name, address, and relationship of the sender to the deceased and the name and address of the individual to whom authority is delegated. Written authorization shall follow by mail but does not take precedence over the electronic communication authorizing the identification and cremation.

Credits

Added by Acts 1982, c. 21, § 2, eff. July 1, 1982. Amended by Acts 1994, c. 517, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 1994; Acts 1995, c. 517, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 1995; Acts 2006, c. 485, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2006.
Formerly Art. 43, §§ 367B, 367D.
MD Code, Health - General, § 5-502, MD HEALTH GEN § 5-502
Current through legislation effective through April 25, 2024, from the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly. Some statute sections may be more current, see credits for details.
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