36-852. Rights and duties of procurement organizations and others

A. When a hospital refers an individual at or near death to an organ procurement organization, the organization shall make a reasonable search of the records of any donor registry that it knows exists for the geographical area in which the individual resides to determine if the individual has made an anatomical gift.

B. A procurement organization must be allowed reasonable access to information in the records of the donor registry to determine if an individual at or near death is a donor.

C. When a hospital refers an individual at or near death to an organ procurement organization, the organ procurement organization or the appropriate eye bank or tissue bank 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 During the examination period, measures necessary to ensure the medical suitability of the part may not be withdrawn unless the hospital or procurement organization knows that the individual expressed a contrary intent.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 otherwise prohibited by law, at any time after a donor's death, the person to which a part passes pursuant to section 36-850 may conduct any reasonable examination necessary to ensure the medical suitability of the body or part for its intended purpose.

E. Unless otherwise prohibited by law, an examination pursuant to subsection C or D of this section may include an examination of all medical and dental records of the donor or prospective donor.

F. On the death of a minor who was a donor or who had signed a refusal, unless a procurement organization knows the minor is emancipated, the appropriate 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. On referral by a hospital pursuant to subsection A of this section, the appropriate procurement organization must make a reasonable search for any person listed in section 36-848 who has 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 the requirements of section 36-850, subsection I and section 36-861, the rights of the person to which a part passes pursuant to section 36-850 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 who 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 pursuant to section 36-850, on the death of the donor and before embalming, burial or cremation, shall cause the part to be removed without unnecessary mutilation.

I. The physician who attends the decedent at death and the physician who determines the time of the decedent's death may not participate in the procedures for removing or transplanting a part from the decedent.

J. A physician or technician may remove a donated part from the body of a donor that the physician or technician is qualified to remove.