WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor Ch. 295

CHAPTER 295

(Senate Bill 15)

AN ACT concerning

Anatomical Gift Act - Cornea Research

FOR the purpose of altering certain provisions of law relating to
the use of corneal tissue so as to include research needs,
to require, rather than permit, certain medical examiners to
provide corneas upon the request of a certain eye bank, and
to include a certain eye bank and research foundation in
these provisions of law; providing for a certain
distribution of corneal tissue; adding a condition which
must be met before certain medical examiners may provide
corneas to certain eye banks; exempting certain eye tissue
banks from civil liability under certain circumstances; and
generally relating to authorization for the use of corneal
tissue for research.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,

Article - Estates and Trusts

Section 4-509.1

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1974 Volume and 1988 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article - Estates and Trusts

4-509.1.

(a) In any case where [a patient is in] THERE IS A need
[of] FOR corneal tissue for a transplant OR RESEARCH, the Chief
Medical Examiner, the deputy chief medical examiner, or an
assistant medical examiner [may] SHALL provide the cornea upon
the request of the Medical Eye Bank of Maryland, Incorporated, OR
THE LIONS OF DISTRICT 22-C EYE BANK AND RESEARCH FOUNDATION,
INCORPORATED, SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS
SECTION, AND under the following conditions:

(1)  The medical examiner has charge of a decedent who
may provide a suitable cornea for the transplant OR RESEARCH;

(2)  An autopsy will be required;

(3)  No objection by the next of kin is known by the
medical examiner; and

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