(a) Except as provided in this section, a person who dissects or mutilates a dead human body is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than three (3) years, or a fine of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000), or both. (b) This section does not apply to: (1) A physician or surgeon acting on the order of a court of competent jurisdiction, a coroner or other qualified officer, a licensed funeral director or a licensed embalmer; (2) Dissection to determine the cause of death when authorized by the nearest living kin of the deceased; (3) Unclaimed dead human bodies delivered by state or county authorities to regularly chartered institutions for scientific research; (4) The necessary mutilation incident to embalming a dead human body when authorized by nearest living kin, a court of competent jurisdiction or other qualified officer; or (5) Conduct authorized by the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act, chapter 18.6 of title 23.
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