SECTION 50:10-1-15. Desecration of a human corpse

(a)   Dissection in an authorized institution by authorized persons is specifically exempted from the Oklahoma criminal statute prohibiting desecration of a corpse. The Board has determined:

(1)   dissection of human cadaveric materials in health science, and related, education and research, and activities found by the Board to be related to dissection (see paragraph (2) of this subsection) are a special privilege and are authorized for members and students of the health, and related, professions for the purpose of the advancement of knowledge in these fields. Exercise of this authority is accompanied by solemn obligations to conduct all activities related to such dissection with respect and dignity. Authorized dissection shall take place under supervision of trained and qualified persons, and only in specified locations that have been approved by the Board and which meet the standards set forth in this title (relating to Standards for Facilities);

(2)   the following activities are integrally related to dissection:

(A)   procurement of bodies:

(i)   removal from the place of death, hospital, morgue, medical examiner's office, or mortuary; and transfer to a proper site for storage or embalming;

(ii)   transfer to storage site or dissecting facility approved by the Board.

(B)   distribution of bodies: removal from one storage site and transfer to another approved facility designated by the Board.

(C)   handling of bodies:

(i)   embalming;

(ii)   placement in storage;

(iii)   removal from storage;

(iv)   placement on dissecting table in a designated facility approved by the Board.

(D)   dissection: cutting or otherwise separating body components for the purpose of demonstrating or investigating structural relationships of tissues, organs, or systems.

(E)   use of bodies in biomedical research: removal of body parts or constituents and subjection thereof to further manipulation for the purpose of advancing scientific knowledge.

(F)   disposal of remains:

(i)   removal from the dissecting table;

(ii)   transfer to crematory or burial site;

(iii)   cremation or burial;

(iv)   final disposition of cremains.

(b)   Whenever a person or institution becomes aware of a possible desecration of corpse, the person or institution shall report the facts, as known, to the executive director of the Board. The Board shall give the person or institution the opportunity to document that no violation occurred or that proper remedial safeguards have been implemented to render the likelihood of reoccurrence unlikely. If the Board has cause to believe that a person or institution has failed to report as required by this subsection or that desecration of a corpse has occurred and may reoccur, the Board shall recommend an appropriate sanction up to suspending the privilege for that person or institution's to receive, hold, and dissect bodies be revoked. No privilege to receive and hold bodies shall be revoked, in the absence of the person or institution's consent, without the opportunity for a hearing.

[Source: Added at 31 Ok Reg 783, eff 9-12-14]