<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".02" citation="COMAR 09.34.13.02" title_num="09" subtitle_num="34" chapter_num="13" heading="Removal, Identification, and Transportation of Human Remains.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Upon receipt of human remains, a registered reduction operator, in the presence of the authorizing agent or representative of the funeral establishment engaging reduction facility services, shall:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Verify that the information on the wrist tag of the human remains is consistent with the documentation accompanying the human remains and consistent with the visual observation of the human remains;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Verify with a hand magnet or metal detector wand that any battery operated, implanted devices including pacemakers, defibrillators, or pain relief devices are removed before the process may begin;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Refuse to accept human remains for natural organic reduction if human remains are confirmed to have or suspected of having one or more of the following conditions:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>A radioactive seed implant within thirty days of death;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>A nuclear pacemaker;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Perishing as a result of a radiologic incident or accident, unless a written release is provided by the Maryland Department of Environment Radiological Health Program or other local, state, or federal agency in charge of the response to the radiological incident or accident; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>A presence of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease or other prion disease, Ebola virus infection, mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, or any other infection, disease, or biological condition identified by the Director based on the reasonable recommendation of federal, state, or local health authority;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Remove and properly dispose of any hazardous object or any other materials that the registered reduction operator deems should be removed from the human remains or vessel in order to prevent harm to the public health or damage to the vessel;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>Remove any jewelry on the human remains or in the vessel;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>Return any removed jewelry to the authorizing agent or representative of the funeral establishment engaging natural organic reduction services; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(7)">
      <text>Obtain a signed, itemized receipt from the authorizing agent or representative of the funeral establishment engaging natural organic reduction services for the removed jewelry and retain the receipt as a permanent record.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Foreign objects removed from human remains:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Shall be treated as medical waste and disposed of accordingly; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>May not be donated until a sterilization process through a third party, recognized by the Office, to dispose properly of medical waste has been performed.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Materials identifying the human remains placed in the custody of a permit holder shall contain the following information:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Name;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Date of birth;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Date of death;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Name of funeral establishment or authorizing agent;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>Gender; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>Name and relationship to the decedent of authorizing agent.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>A permit holder shall not accept unidentified human remains for reduction.</text>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>