Title 17. Education

Chapter 12. Scientific Research

Part II. Anatomical Gift Act

17:2353      Persons who may receive anatomical gifts; purpose of anatomical gifts

A. An anatomical gift may be made to any of the following: 

(1) Any hospital, accredited medical school, dental school, college, university, organ procurement organization, or other appropriate person, for research or education. 

(2) Subject to the provisions of Subsection B of this Section, a person designated by a donor. 

(3) An eye or tissue bank. 

B. If an anatomical gift to a person in accordance with this Section cannot be transplanted into the recipient, the part passes in accordance with the provisions of Subsection G of this Section in the absence of an express, contrary indication by the donor. 

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 in accordance with Subsection A of this Section but identifies the purpose for which an anatomical gift may be used, the following shall 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, 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 purposes of Subsection C of this Section, if there is more than one purpose of an anatomical gift set forth in the document of gift but the purposes are not set forth in any priority, the gift shall be used for transplantation or therapy. 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 but does not name a person in accordance with Subsection 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 in accordance with the provisions of Subsection G of this Section. 

F. If a document of gift specifies 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 in accordance with the provisions of Subsection G of this Section. 

G. For purposes of Subsections B, E, and F of this Section the following shall 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 made in accordance with Paragraph (A)(2) of this Section, passes to the organ procurement organization as custodian of the organ. 

I. If an anatomical gift does not pass pursuant to the provisions of Subsections A through H of this Section, or the body or part of the decedent is not used for transplantation, therapy, research, or education, custody of the body or part passes to the person obligated to properly dispose of the body or part. 

J. A person may not accept an anatomical gift if he knows the gift was not effectively made pursuant to the provisions of R.S. 17:2354 or 2356 or if the person knows that the decedent made a refusal in accordance with the provisions of R.S. 17:2354.1 that has not been revoked. For purposes of this Subsection, if a person knows that an anatomical gift was made on a document of gift, the person is presumed to know of any amendment, revocation, or refusal made to the same document of gift. 

K. The Louisiana-designated organ procurement organization may transfer a vascular organ to an out-of-state organ procurement organization or suitable out-of-state recipient for transplantation only if a suitable recipient in the state of Louisiana cannot be found in a reasonable amount of time. 

L. Except as otherwise provided in Paragraph (A)(2) of this Section, nothing in this Part affects the allocation of organs for transplantation or therapy. 

M. Potential anatomical gift recipients shall be entitled to the protections against discrimination based on disability provided in R.S. 40:1170.1 et seq.

Acts 2010, No. 937, § 2, eff. July 1, 2010. Amended by Acts 2019, No. 57, § 1, eff. May 30, 2019.