Section 27491.44.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the coroner is authorized to do all of the following:

(a) Assist the people of this state, as appropriate, in the implementation of the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act contained in Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 7150) of Part 1 of Division 7 of the Health and Safety Code, and in the otherwise lawful utilization of medically proven organ and tissue transplant procedures.

(b) Cooperate in the authorized removal and timely disposition of human organs and tissue from the bodies of deceased persons, including victims of homicide, in accordance with law and accepted medical practice.

(c) Assist medical and health service agencies in identifying donors of human organs and tissues, for purposes of providing life-enhancing benefits of transplant surgery to recipients under duly sanctioned medical conditions.

(d) Ask the deceased person's next of kin, at the time of notification of death, whether the deceased was a donor or if the family was a donor family. If not, the coroner is authorized to inform them of their option to donate viable organs and tissues.

(e) Enter into agreements with one or more procurement organizations to coordinate organ recovery procedures within that coroner's jurisdiction or in cooperation with other coroners throughout the state.

(f) Contract with or receive assistance of any kind from any public or private entity for the purpose of providing education and training to his or her personnel in pathology or any other area of the healing arts and sciences that will assist in timely determination of the causes of death.

(Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 827, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1997.)