Organ Donations

A revised Uniform Anatomical Gift Act has become law through the collaboration of the ACLU, the RI Department of Health and the New England Organ Bank. The Affiliate had raised a number of concerns about the original bill, which contained an unduly broad list of persons who could authorize organ donations on behalf of a decedent, allowed donor procurement organizations access to a wide range of non-medical information about potential donors, and authorized organ donation considerations to override a patient’s explicit living will instructions. The groups successfully worked together to amend the bill and address the Affiliate’s concerns.