Case Law

• Alaska Supreme Court Opinions

Statutes, Rules & Regulations

• Alaska Statutes
• Alaska Administrative Code

Constitutions

Miscellaneous

Search

Advertising with us can place you in front of thousands of visitors a day. Learn more!

Alaska Statutes.

Title 13. Decedents' Estates, Guardianships, Transfers, and Trusts.

Chapter 52. Health Care Decisions Act

Section 207. Persons Who May Receive Anatomical Gift; Purpose of Anatomical Gift.

AS 13.52.207. Persons Who May Receive Anatomical Gift; Purpose of Anatomical Gift.

   (a) An anatomical gift may be made to the following persons named in the document of gift:
        (1) a hospital, an accredited medical school, a dental school, a college, a university, an organ procurement organization, or another appropriate person, for research or education;
        (2) subject to (b) of this section, an individual designated by the person making the anatomical gift if the individual is the recipient of the part;
        (3) an eye bank or a tissue bank.
   (b) If an anatomical gift to an individual under (a)(2) of this section cannot be transplanted into the individual, the part passes under (g) of this section in the absence of an express, contrary indication by the person making the anatomical gift.
   (c) If an anatomical gift of one or more specific parts or of all parts is made in a document of gift that does not name a person described in (a) of this section but identifies the purpose for which an anatomical gift may be used, the following rules apply:
        (1) if the part is an eye and the gift is for the purpose of transplantation or therapy, the gift passes to the appropriate eye bank;
        (2) if the part is tissue and the gift is for the purpose of transplantation or therapy, the gift passes to the appropriate tissue bank;
        (3) if the part is an organ and the gift is for the purpose of transplantation or therapy, the gift passes to the appropriate organ procurement organization as custodian of the organ;
        (4) if the part is an organ, an eye, or tissue and the gift is for the purpose of research or education, the gift passes to the appropriate procurement organization.
   (d) For the purpose of (c) of this section, if there is more than one purpose of an anatomical gift set out in the document of gift but the purposes are not set out in any priority, the gift shall be used for transplantation or therapy, if suitable. If the gift cannot be used for transplantation or therapy, the gift may be used for research or education.
   (e) If an anatomical gift of one or more specific parts is made in a document of gift that does not name a person described in (a) of this section and does not identify the purpose of the gift, the gift may be used only for transplantation or therapy, and the gift passes under (g) of this section.
   (f) If a document of gift specifies only a general intent to make an anatomical gift by words such as “donor,” “organ donor,” or “body donor,” or by a symbol or statement of similar import, the gift may be used only for transplantation or therapy, and the gift passes under (g) of this section.
   (g) For purposes of (b), (e), and (f) of this section, the following rules apply:
        (1) if the part is an eye, the gift passes to the appropriate eye bank;
        (2) if the part is tissue, the gift passes to the appropriate tissue bank;
        (3) if the part is an organ, the gift passes to the appropriate organ procurement organization as custodian of the organ.
   (h) An anatomical gift of an organ for transplantation or therapy, other than an anatomical gift under (a)(2) of this section, passes to the organ procurement organization as custodian of the organ.
   (i) If an anatomical gift does not pass under (a) — (h) of this section or the decedent's body or part is not used for transplantation, therapy, research, or education, custody of the body or part passes to the person under obligation to dispose of the body or part.
   (j) A person may not accept an anatomical gift if the person knows that the gift was not effectively made under AS 13.52.177 or 13.52.203 or if the person knows that the decedent made a refusal under AS 13.52.187 that was not revoked. For purposes of this subsection, if a person knows that an anatomical gift was made on a document of gift, the person is considered to know of any amendment or revocation of the gift or any refusal to make an anatomical gift on the same document of gift.
   (k) Except as otherwise provided in (a)(2) of this section, nothing in AS 13.52.173 — 13.52.268 affects the allocation of organs for transplantation or therapy.