§22-19-173. Rights and duties of procurement organization and others.

THIS SECTION WAS ASSIGNED BY THE CODE COMMISSIONER IN THE 2008 REGULAR SESSION, EFFECTIVE NOVEMBER 1, 2008.

(a) When a hospital refers an individual at or near death to a procurement organization, the organization shall make a reasonable search of the records of the Department of Public Safety and any donor registry that it knows exists for the geographical area in which the individual resides to ascertain whether the individual has made an anatomical gift.

(b) A procurement organization must be allowed reasonable access to information in the records of the Department of Public Safety to ascertain whether an individual at or near death is a donor.

(c) When a hospital refers an individual at or near death to a procurement organization, the organization may conduct any reasonable examination necessary to ensure the medical suitability of a part that is or could be the subject of an anatomical gift for transplantation, therapy, research, or education from a donor or a prospective donor. During the examination period, measures necessary to ensure the medical suitability of the part may not be withdrawn unless the hospital or procurement organization knows that the individual expressed a contrary intent.

(d) Unless prohibited by law other than this article, at any time after a donor's death, the person to which a part passes under Section 22-19-170 may conduct any reasonable examination necessary to ensure the medical suitability of the body or part for its intended purpose.

(e) Unless prohibited by law other than this article, an examination under subsection (c) or (d) may include an examination of all medical and dental records of the donor or prospective donor.

(f) Upon the death of a minor who was a donor or had signed a refusal, unless a procurement organization knows the minor is emancipated, the procurement organization shall conduct a reasonable search for the parents of the minor and provide the parents with an opportunity to revoke or amend the anatomical gift or revoke the refusal.

(g) Upon referral by a hospital under subsection (a), a procurement organization shall make a reasonable search for any person listed in Section 22-19-168 having priority to make an anatomical gift on behalf of a prospective donor. If a procurement organization receives information that an anatomical gift to any other person was made, amended, or revoked, it shall promptly advise the other person of all relevant information.

(h) Subject to Sections 22-19-170(i) and 22-19-182, the rights of the person to which a part passes under Section 22-19-170 are superior to the rights of all others with respect to the part. The person may accept or reject an anatomical gift in whole or in part. Subject to the terms of the document of gift and this article, a person that accepts an anatomical gift of an entire body may allow embalming, burial, or cremation, and use of remains in a funeral service. If the gift is of a part, the person to which the part passes under Section 22-19-170, upon the death of the donor and before embalming, burial, or cremation, shall cause the part to be removed without unnecessary mutilation.

(i) Neither the physician who attends the decedent at death nor the physician who determines the time of the decedent's death may participate in the procedures for removing or transplanting a part from the decedent.

(j) The removal will be by a physician, surgeon, surgeon's assistant, tissue recovery technician certified by the Alabama Organ Center after completing the training of the Alabama Organ Center according to the medical standards of the American Association of Tissue Banks, or a certified procurement transplant coordinator certified by completing the training of the Alabama Organ Center and the American Board of Transplant Coordinators; but in the case of eyes, a technician certified by the Alabama Eye Bank after completing training according to the medical standards of the Eye Bank Association of America may remove any donated eyes or parts of eyes, after determination of death by a physician or surgeon.

(Act 2008-453, §1.)