Nev. Admin. Code § 451.015

Current through June 11, 2024

Section 451.015 - Maintenance of dead body; exceptions

1. Except as otherwise provided in this section and NAC 451.010, the operator of a crematory, funeral establishment or direct cremation facility shall ensure that each dead body of a human being is embalmed or refrigerated at a temperature of not more than 48 degrees Fahrenheit within 24 hours after the operator receives the human remains.

2. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 3, a funeral director, embalmer or another person assisting in the preparation of human remains for final disposition may delay the refrigeration of or remove the human remains from refrigeration for identification viewing and for the following activities:

(a) Embalming the human remains;

(b) Transporting the human remains;

(c) Cremating or burying the human remains;

(d) Washing, anointing, clothing, praying over, viewing or otherwise accompanying the unembalmed human remains, for a period of time not to exceed 8 consecutive hours, by a person acting according to the directions of the decedent or a person having the right to control the disposition of the human remains of the deceased person; or

(e) Any other activity approved by the local health officer after evaluating the specific circumstances, the need to protect the public health and the recognition of religious beliefs.

3. A funeral director, embalmer or another person assisting in the preparation of human remains for final disposition shall not delay the refrigeration of or remove the human remains from refrigeration for identification viewing or an activity set forth in paragraph (d) of subsection 2 if he or she is informed by a local health officer or medical examiner that doing so would pose a direct threat to human health.

4. Nothing in this section restricts the authority of a coroner or medical examiner concerning human remains that are under the jurisdiction of the coroner or medical examiner.

5. As used in this section, "identification viewing" means the viewing of human remains for identification purposes, for a period of time not to exceed 1 hour, by a person who is potentially capable of identifying the human remains.

Nev. Admin. Code § 451.015

Added to NAC by Funeral and Cemetery Svcs. Bd. by R067-15A, eff. 11/2/2016

NRS 451.640, 452.026, 642.063