Powell and Brotherton Corneas can be taken from dead bodies by a medical examiner in the absence of consent as long as there is also no objection.
Courts disagree about family's rights in the decedent's body.
Medical examiner cannot take the corneas during an autopsy without making some effort to detect a family's objection. Powell important health benefits gained from cornea transplants most families give consent when asked for permission minimal intrusion into the person's body lack of impact on the dead person's appearance several safeguards decedent under jurisdiction of medical examiner autopsy is mandated by state law removal will not interfere with the autopsy or investigation of the death there is a present need for corneas for transplantation.