The following shall be the policy of the Santa Clara County Medical Examiner-Coroner's Office with regard to notification of next-of-kin when organs may be removed and retained when an autopsy is performed.

When an autopsy is conducted there is occasion when an organ will be retained for further examination to assure that a thorough cause and manner of death can be determined by the forensic pathologist (27491.45 Cal. Gov. Code). This examination may be completed within the ME/C Office or may be submitted to an outside laboratory or hospital for the appropriate examination.

The ME/C Office shall make a reasonable effort to locate and advise the legal next-of-kin (as listed in 7100.1 of Cal. Heath and Safety Code) of such organ retention. A reasonable effort will be made to make this notification to provide the next-of-kin enough advance notice to make final plans for disposition.

The organ may be retained for 2-4 weeks or longer. The release of the organ shall be in compliance with any laws regarding the safe disposition and handling of organs. This will usually be the return of the organ to the funeral home for disposition, at the next-of-kin's direction, or cremation of the organ after examination at the direction of the ME/C'sOffice.

This notification shall not be made, if in the opinion of the Medical Examiner-Coroner's Office such notification may compromise the integrity of an ongoing criminal investigation.

Any organ retention for donation purposes will only be completed upon prior consent of the next-of-kin.