Section 1
This Act may be cited as the Human Tissues Act 1974 and shall apply throughout Malaysia.
(2)
This Act shall come into force on such date as the Minister responsible for health may by notification in the Gazette appoint.
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Human Tissues Act 1974 is Malaysia Act, cited as Act 130 1974, currently marked in force and first recorded in 1974.
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Date of Royal Assent
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8 March 1974
Date of publication in the Gazette … … …
14 March 1974
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1995
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2000
Human Tissues 3
Act 130
Opening note
This Act may be cited as the Human Tissues Act 1974 and shall apply throughout Malaysia.
This Act shall come into force on such date as the Minister responsible for health may by notification in the Gazette appoint.
Removal of parts of bodies for therapeutic purposes
If any person, either in writing at any time or orally in the presence of two or more witnesses during his last illness, has expressed a request that his body or any specified part of his body be used after his death for therapeutic purposes, or for purposes of medical education or research, the person lawfully in possession of his body after his death may, unless he has reason to believe that the request was subsequently withdrawn, authorize the removal from the body of any part or, as the case may be, the specified part, for use in accordance with the request.
Without prejudice to the foregoing subsection, the person lawfully in possession of the body of a deceased person may
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authorize the removal of any part from the said body for use for the purposes aforesaid if, having made such reasonable enquiry as may be practicable, he has no reason to believe—
that the deceased had expressed an objection to his body being so dealt with after his death; or
that the surviving spouse or any surviving next-of-kin of the deceased objects to the body being so dealt with.
No authorization shall be given under this section in respect of any body by a person entrusted with the body for the purpose only of its internment or cremation.
Removal and use of parts of bodies
Subject to subsections (2) and (3), the removal and use of any part of a body in accordance with an authorization given in pursuance of section 2 shall be lawful.
No such removal shall be effected except by a medical practitioner fully registered under section 14 of the Medical Act 1971 [Act 50], and who together with at least one other fully registered medical practitioner have satisfied themselves by personal examination of the body that life is extinct.
Where a person has reason to believe that a post-mortem, or an inquest or an inquiry into the death, may be held under the
Criminal Procedure Code [Act 593], he shall not except with the written consent of the Magistrate—
act on an authorization given by the deceased under subsection 2(1) or by any other person.
Body of deceased person in hospital
In the case of a body of a deceased person lying in a hospital and unclaimed the person having the control and management of the hospital or any other person authorized by him shall be deemed for the purpose of this Act to be a person in lawful possession of the body.
Human Tissues 7
Act lawful before commencement of this Act
Nothing in this Act shall be construed as rendering unlawful any dealing with, or with any part of, the body of a deceased person which could have been lawful if this Act had not been passed.
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Act 130
LIST OF AMENDMENTS
Amending law
Short title
In force from
– NIL –
Human Tissues 9
Act 130
LIST OF SECTIONS AMENDED
Section
Amending authority
In force from
– NIL –
KUALA LUMPUR
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