N.Y. Pub. Health Law § 4214

§ 4214. Cadavers; autopsy by order of hospital authorities. 1. The\ndirector or person having lawful control and management of any hospital\nin which a patient has died may order the performance of an autopsy upon\nthe body of such deceased person, after first giving notice of the death\nto the next of kin of such person, unless the body is claimed or\nobjection is made to such autopsy by the next of kin within forty-eight\nhours after death, or within twenty-four hours after such notice of\ndeath. In no case shall an autopsy or dissection be performed upon any\nbody within forty-eight hours after death, unless a written consent or\ndirective therefor has been received from the person or persons legally\nentitled to consent to or order such autopsy or dissection. Except as\nrequired by law, no dissection or autopsy shall be performed on the body\nof any person who is carrying an identification card upon his person\nindicating his opposition to such dissection or autopsy.\n 2. In the case of an unclaimed body of a deceased person, the medical\ncolleges, schools, institutes and universities shall have a priority\nclaim to the said body, for the purposes of medical, anatomical or\nsurgical science and study as provided in this article.\n