2012 Vermont Statutes
Title 33 Human Services
Chapter 23 BURIALS AT PUBLIC EXPENSE
§ 2302 Use for advancement of anatomical science

§ 2302. Use for advancement of anatomical science

(a) When requested in writing by a practicing physician, licensed and resident in this state, the officer having charge of the burial shall deliver the body of a deceased person to be buried under section 2301 of this title to the physician to be used by him or her for the advancement of anatomical science, unless:

(1) The deceased person is known to have served in the armed forces of the United States of America, or his or her spouse so served.

(2) The deceased person during his or her last illness made a request for burial of his or her body.

(3) A person claiming to be related to the deceased person requires within 48 hours after the death that the body be buried.

(4) The deceased is a stranger or traveler who dies suddenly before making himself or herself known.

(5) The deceased is identified as a nonresident of this state traveling in the state or temporarily living in the state, unless legal consent is given by the appropriate relative.

(6) The deceased person is known to have executed an anatomical gift document in accordance with the provisions of the Revised Uniform Anatomical Gift Act.

(b) A person receiving a body under subsection (a) of this section shall not remove it from the state, nor use it for a purpose other than the study of anatomical science. After he or she has used the body, he or she shall decently bury the remains in a cemetery, at his or her own expense. However, if a relative of the deceased person so requests, the physician shall deliver the remains to him or her for burial.

(c) A person who violates subsection (b) of this section shall be fined not more than $1,000.00 or imprisoned not more than five years, or both. (Added 1967, No. 147, § 8, eff. Oct. 1, 1968; amended 1969, No. 53, § 10; 2009, No. 119 (Adj. Sess.), § 8.)