72-17-213. Routine inquiry and required request -- search and notification. (1) At or near the time of death of a hospitalized patient, the hospital administrator or a representative designated by the administrator shall notify the appropriate procurement organization and, if the reason for death falls under 46-4-122, the coroner with jurisdiction of the imminent or actual death of the patient and, in collaboration with the procurement organization, shall ensure that a trained designated requester is readily available to discuss donation opportunities with a person authorized under 72-17-214 to make an anatomical gift. The person designated must be a representative of a procurement organization or a person who has had training provided by or approved by a procurement organization.

(2) When a hospital refers an individual at or near death to a procurement organization, the organization:

(a) shall make a reasonable search of the records of the department of justice 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) must be allowed reasonable access to information in the records of the department of justice to ascertain whether an individual at or near death is a donor; and

(c) 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 During the examination period, measures necessary to ensure the medical suitability of the part may not be withdrawn unless the hospital or procurement organization knows that the individual expressed a contrary intent.

(3) A hospital, as soon as practical after the arrival of an individual reasonably believed to be dead or near death, shall make a reasonable search of the individual for a document of gift or other information identifying the bearer as a donor or as an individual who has refused to make an anatomical gift if there is not immediately available any other source of that information.

(4) If a document of gift or evidence of refusal to make an anatomical gift is located by the search required by subsection (3) and the individual or body to whom it relates is taken to a hospital, the hospital must be notified of the contents and the document or other evidence must be sent to the hospital.

(5) If, at or near the time of death of a patient, a hospital knows that an anatomical gift has been made pursuant to 72-17-214(1) or a release and removal of a part has been permitted pursuant to 72-17-215 or that a patient or an individual identified as in transit to the hospital is a donor, the hospital shall notify the donee if one is named and known to the hospital; if not, it shall notify an appropriate procurement organization. The hospital shall cooperate in the implementation of the anatomical gift or release and removal of a part.

(6) A person who fails to discharge the duties imposed by this section is not subject to criminal or civil liability but may be subject to appropriate administrative sanctions.

(7) 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.

(8) Upon referral by a hospital under subsection (2), a procurement organization shall make a reasonable search for any person listed in 72-17-214 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.

History: En. Sec. 13, Ch. 540, L. 1989; amd. Sec. 262, Ch. 42, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 11, Ch. 345, L. 2007.