NPRC DECREE N0.11 1994

DECREES *Supplement to the Sierra Leone Gazette Vol. CXXV, No. 21* *dated 5th May, 1994* N.P.R.C. Decree No. 11 1994 [Coat of Arms: UNITY FREEDOM JUSTICE] Sierra Leone The Anatomy Decree, 1994 [Margin: Short title.] **Being a Decree to regulate the anatomical examination of deceased persons and for other related matters.** [5th May, 1994] [Margin: Date of Commencement.] PURSUANT to paragraph 3 of the Proclamation entitled "The Administration of Sierra Leone (National Provisional Ruling Council) Proclamation, 1992", the National Provisional Ruling Council makes and issues the following Decree— [Margin: Interpretation] **1.** In this Decree unless the context otherwise requires— "Department of Anatomy" means the department of Anatomy of the College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences; 2 No. 11 *The Anatomy Decree* 1994 "Medical and Dental Council" means the Medical and Dental Council established under the Medical Practitioners and Dental Surgeons Decree, 1994; "medical practitioner" means any person registered as such under the Medical Practitioners and Dental Surgeons Decree, 1994; "next-of-kin" means the nearest blood relation of the deceased person; "qualified person" means the Head of the Anatomy Department or medical practitioner or teacher who by reason of his training is qualified to undertake anatomical examination of bodies. [Margin: Medical and Dental Council to issue licence.] **2.** (1) The Medical and Dental Council shall, for the purposes of this Decree, issue a licence to the Department of Anatomy. (2) The licence shall be as set out in Form A of the Schedule and shall be deemed to authorise the practice of anatomy in the Anatomy Department by the Head of the Department, any teacher or medical practitioner employed in the Department and any student attending a course of training at the Department working under the supervision of the Head of the Department, teacher or medical practitioner. [Margin: Next-of-kin to authorise anatomical examination.] **3.** Unless the deceased person during his life stated in writing or orally in the presence of two or more persons that his body after death should not undergo any anatomical examination, the next-of-kin of such deceased person having possession of the body may permit such body to undergo anatomical examination.

[Margin: Body to be examined notwithstanding objection.] **4.** Where the deceased person at any time before his death— (*a*) stated in writing or orally in the presence of two or more persons that his body after death should undergo anatomical examination; or (*b*) nominated a qualified person to undertake an anatomical examination of his body, a qualified person shall examine or supervise the anatomical examination of the body notwithstanding any objection by the next-of-kin or surviving spouse of the deceased person. 4 No. 11 *The Anatomy Decree* 1994 [Margin: Removal and burial of dead body.] **7.** (1) A body which is to undergo anatomical examination shall be removed from the place of death in a decent coffin or receptacle and under hygienic conditions. (2) The Head of the Department of Anatomy shall ensure that the body after undergoing anatomical examination is decently buried in a public or other cemetery. [Margin: Certificate of interment.] **8.** (1) The Head of Department of Anatomy shall, after the burial of a body, sign a certificate of interment and transmit it within six months after the body has been buried to the Chief Medical Officer. (2) The Chief Medical Officer may from time to time vary the period within which such certificate is transmitted to him. (3) The certificate of interment shall be in Form D of the Schedule. [Margin: No person to be liable for prosecution or action.] **9.** The Head of the Department of Anatomy, teacher, medical practitioner or student attending a course of training in anatomy shall not be liable to any action or prosecution for receiving or having in his possession for anatomical examination any dead body received under this Decree. [Margin: Post-mortem examinations.] **10.** Nothing in this Decree shall be construed to extend to or prohibit any postmortem examination of any dead body required or directed to be made by a competent legal authority. [Margin: Offence.] **11.** Any person who obstructs any other person authorised under this Decree from— (*a*) removing a dead body for anatomical examination; or (*b*) undertaking an anatomical examination of a dead body, commits an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding two hundred and fifty thousand leones or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding one year or to both such fine and imprisonment. No. 11 *The Anatomy Decree* 1994 7 FORM C

CERTIFICATE OF CAUSE OF DEATH I certify that I viewed at (place where body was viewed) the body of (name of deceased) of (address of deceased) at (time the body was viewed) on the......... day of ...........................19.... The deceased was about.................. years of age and, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the cause of death was as follows:— PRIMARY CAUSE: SECONDARY CAUSE: Witness my hand this............day of ..............................19...... ..............................................................................(Signature) ..............................................................................(Medical qualifications) ..............................................................................(Address) 8 No. 11 *The Anatomy Decree* 1994 FORM D CERTIFICATE OF INTERMENT I certify that the body of (name of deceased) was received for anatomical examination on (date the body was received) and that the body of the said deceased was removed, after anatomical examination, in a decent coffin/shell and decently interred on the (date of interment) in (place at interment). Dated at...........................this........day of..........................19...... ....................................... *Head,* *School of Anatomy.* MADE and ISSUED this *12th* day of *April, 1994.* CAPTAIN VALENTINE E. M. STRASSER *Chairman,* *National Provisional Ruling Council.*