2015 New York Laws
PBH - Public Health
Article 42 - CADAVERS
Title 2 - (4209 - 4222) AUTOPSY AND DISSECTION
4214 - Cadavers; autopsy by order of hospital authorities.

  4214.  Cadavers;  autopsy by order of hospital authorities. 1.  The
  director or person having lawful control and management of any  hospital
  in which a patient has died may order the performance of an autopsy upon
  the body of such deceased person, after first giving notice of the death
  to  the  next  of  kin  of  such  person,  unless the body is claimed or
  objection is made to such autopsy by the next of kin within  forty-eight
  hours  after  death,  or  within  twenty-four hours after such notice of
  death. In no case shall an autopsy or dissection be performed  upon  any
  body  within  forty-eight hours after death, unless a written consent or
  directive therefor has been received from the person or persons  legally
  entitled  to  consent  to or order such autopsy or dissection. Except as
  required by law, no dissection or autopsy shall be performed on the body
  of any person who is carrying an identification  card  upon  his  person
  indicating his opposition to such dissection or autopsy.
2.  In the case of an unclaimed body of a deceased person, the medical
  colleges, schools, institutes and universities  shall  have  a  priority
  claim  to  the  said  body,  for  the purposes of medical, anatomical or
  surgical science and study as provided in this article.