The Uniform Anatomical Gift Act (UAGA), and its periodic revisions, is one of the Uniform Acts drafted by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws (NCCUSL), also known as the Uniform Law Commission (ULC), in the United States with the intention of harmonizing state laws between the states.[1][2][3]
The UAGA governs organ donations for the purpose of transplantation.[3] The Act permits any adult to become an organ donor.[4] It also governs the making of anatomical gifts of one's cadaver to be dissected in the study of medicine.[3] The law prescribes the forms by which such gifts can be made.[3][2][1] It also provides that in the absence of such a document, a surviving spouse, or if there is no spouse, a list of specific relatives in order of preference, can make the gift.[3] It also seeks to limit the liability of health care providers who act on good faith representations that a deceased patient meant to make an anatomical gift.[3] The Act also prohibits trafficking and trafficking in human organs for profit from donations for transplant or therapy.[5][6]
The UAGA provides a template for the legislation to adjust public policy and align it with developments in medical practice.[3] Some states have their own version of the UAGA which is an updated version of the Uniform laws already enacted throughout the United States.[7][8]
History
There were three versions of the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act that were enacted; the first was the UAGA of 1968, which was followed up with revisions in 1987. The most recent version was created in 2006.[3] The Uniform Anatomical Gift Act has been established in some form, in every state and the District of Columbia (D.C.), as of 2017.[7][4]
The law has been revised to make the process of making an anatomical gift more streamlined, and to promote organ donation to citizens in order to address the high demand for donated organs for transplantation.[citation needed] The demand for donated organs is extremely high due to the fact that a large number of people die while waiting for an organ transplant in the United States.[5][3] As of 2016, there were fewer registered organ donors than people in need of an organ or tissue transplant.[5]
Formerly, anatomical gifts had to be executed with testamentary formalities, including the creation of a written document with two witnesses; the latest version of the statute eliminates the requirement of the witnesses.[2]Medical examiners and medical professionals who cared for a patient upon their death were previously permitted to remove a part of a body if there was no known next of kin, or if the body was unidentified.[5] This change is to encourage the practice of allowing an anatomical gift to be made by a notation on a driver's license.[5][3]
The Uniform Anatomical Gift Act of 1968
The first Uniform Anatomical Gift Act was created after the first successful heart transplant in 1967; the operation was performed by Dr. Christiaan Barnard.[3] In 1968, Congress approved the UAGA and recommended that all states adopt it.[9] The Act was the first legislation enacted by all states in United States to address the donation of organs, tissues, and eyes as gifts to someone who may be in need of an organ for survival.[2][3] The UAGA was drafted in order to increase organ and blood supplies and donation and to protect patients in the United States.[9] It replaced numerous state laws concerning transplantation and laws lacking a uniform procedure of organ donation and an inadequate process of becoming a donor.[9]
All states adopted the original version of the law.[2]
The Uniform Anatomical Gift Act of 1987
In 1987, the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act of 1968 was revised so that there was a uniform manner of obtaining consent from individuals.[9][3] At this time, every state enacted at least some part of the UAGA.[9] The provisions of the UAGA of 1968 would ban the purchase and sale of body parts, facilitate the simplified process of obtaining authorization to retrieve organs, and ensure that medical staff establish procedures and guidelines to identify organ donors while under hospital care.[10] The Act also characterized a body part or organ as property because of the ability of a living individual to gift parts of their body to another individual.[1][9] Another major statement that this revised version of the UAGA made was that a coroner's investigation or an autopsy could not be obstructed by an individual's wish for organ donation.[9] The 1987 UAGA regulated organs for the purposes of transplantation or therapy.[10] In addition, the individual's wishes to donate were prioritized over the family's or next of kin's wishes. Hospitals were authorized to retrieve organs if an individual was found to have documentation of consenting.[10]
In 2006, The Uniform Anatomical Gift Act was revised with three main goals: motivating more of the population to make anatomical gifts, making honoring an individual's wishes to donate a priority, and maintaining the current organ donation and transplantation system in the United States.[5] It also has the purpose of setting rules and guidelines for determining the purposes that one had for choosing to make a gift as well as the purpose of the gift of an organ, eye, or tissue itself.[3] The UAGA was revised to accommodate the developments in medicine and science regarding organ donation and transplantation, as well as the regulations of donation and transplantation with the goal of increasing the supply of gifted organs.[5][3] The Uniform Anatomical Gift Act of 2006 was revised to make the laws governing anatomical gifts more uniform between states that had enacted and continued to enforce the UAGA of 1968 and ones that had enacted the revised UAGA of 1987, leading to more consistency.[3]
Revisions
The UAGA of 2006 allows for individuals to consent to organ donation by expressing their wish when obtaining a driver's license, through verbal expression, by writing it in a will or other advance directive, or in any other manner, simplifying the consent process.[3] This is also known as "opting in" to organ donation.[citation needed] In some states, one may register to become an organ donor online on a state's Donor Registry website, and an individual is permitted to choose which organs they wish to donate by checking boxes.[5] An important addition to the UAGA of 2006 was the strengthening of certain language regarding one's right to make a decision for themselves pertaining to consent of organ donation, making it harder for others to try to nullify one's wish to consent after their death.[6][3] The only exception allowing an individual's consent to donate to be overridden is in the case of the death of a minor when parents or guardians may override the minor's consent.[6][3] Language in the Act is also made more clear so that one cannot revoke an anatomical gift as the donor's decision is final.[6][3] This revised UAGA additionally created legislation allowing certain people to make an anatomical gift to another person while the donating individual is still alive.[3] It is stated that it's the duty of law enforcement officers, firefighters, paramedics, and other emergency personnel to search for the records of donor consent upon death.[5] Another significant addition to the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act of 2006 is the rule of making transplantation or therapy prioritized over research or education with an anatomical gift when a donor's wishes are unclearly stated in documentation.[3]
The Uniform Anatomical Gift Act of 2006 clarifies words written in the law that formerly were ambiguous and confusing such as: anatomical gift, record, refusal, guardian, prospective donor, reasonably available, and disinterested witness.[6][5]
The UAGA revision of 2006 makes it a felony punishable by a fine or prison to falsify, deface, or destroy organ donor documentation of another.[5]
Many states have drafted and enacted their own updated versions of the UAGA based on the revisions of 2006.[7][8]
Legislation status of UAGA in the U.S.
In the United States, all states have enacted some version of the UAGA.[7][8] States have the authority to use the Uniform Anatomical Gift Acts as a template to put additional revisions into law depending on what best fits the state's needs.[7]
Uniform Anatomical Gift Act (UAGA) Legislation of U.S. States and Territories[7][8][1][2][3][5]
U.S. State or Territory
UAGA Legislation Version
State Law Location
Legal Citation
Alabama
2006
Title 22, Chapter 19, Article 9, Alabama Code
Ala. Code § 22-19-160 to § 22-19-174
Alaska
2006
Title 13, Chapter 52, Article 4, Alaska Statutes
Alaska Stat. §§ 13.52.170-13.52.280
Arizona
2006
Title 36, Chapter 7, Article 3, Arizona Revised Statutes
Ariz. Rev. Stat. §§ 36-841-36-844
Arkansas
2006
Title 20, Subtitle 2, Chapter 17, Subchapter 12, Arkansas Code
Ark. Code Ann. §§ 20-17-1201 to 20-17-1218
California
2006
California Health and Safety Code, Chapter 3.5
Cal. Health & Saf. Code §§ 7150-7156.5
Colorado
2006
Title 15, Article 19, Part 2, Colorado Revised Statutes
Colo. Rev. Stat. §§ 15-19-201 to 15-19-223
Connecticut
2010
Title 19a, Chapter 368i, Connecticut General Statutes
Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 19a-289 to 19a-289v
Delaware
2015
Title 16, Chapter 27, Subchapter II, Delaware Code
Del. Code tit. 16 § 2710-2731
District of Columbia (D.C.)
1968
Title 7, Subchapter II-A, D.C. Code
D.C. Code § 7-1531.01 to § 7-1531.22
Florida
2008
Chapter 765, Part V, Florida Statutes
FS. §§ 765.510-765.547
Georgia
2006
Title 44, Chapter 5, Article 6, Georgia Code Annotated
Ga. Code Ann. §§ 44-5-143 to 44-5-153
Hawaii
2006
Title 19, Chapter 327, Part I, Hawaii Revised Statutes
HRS §§ 327-3 to 327-11
Idaho
2006
Title 39, Chapter 34, Subchapter 34, Idaho Code
Idaho Code §§ 39-3401 to 39-3420
Illinois
2006
755 Illinois Compiled Statutes 50/Article 5
755 ILCS 50/5-5 and 755 ILCS 50/5-20
Indiana
2006
Title 29, Article 2, Chapter 16.1, Indiana Code
Ind. Code § 29-2-16.1-1 to § 29-2-16.1-14
Iowa
2006
Chapter 142C, Iowa Code
Iowa Code § 142C.1 to § 142C.15
Kansas
2006
Article 32, Kansas Statutes
Kan. Stat. art. 32
Kentucky
2006
Title 26, Chapter 311, Kentucky Revised Statutes
Ky. Rev. Stat. §§ 311.1915-311.1931
Louisiana
2006
Title 17, Chapter 23, Part III, Louisiana Revised Statutes
La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 17:2351-17:2359
Maine
2006
Title 22, Chapter 710-B, Maine Revised Statutes
Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 22 § 2941 et seq.
Maryland
2012
Title 4, Subtitle 5, Maryland Code
Md. Code, Estates & Trusts § 4-501 to § 4-522
Massachusetts
2006
Chapter 113A, Massachusetts General Laws
M.G.L. c. 113A §§ 1-13
Michigan
2008
Public Health Code, Article 10, Part 101, Michigan Compiled Laws
Title 26, Chapter 291-A, New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated
RSA 291-A:1-291-A:23
New Jersey
2006
Title 26, Chapter 6, New Jersey Revised Statutes
N.J. Stat. Ann. § 26:6-77 et seq.
New Mexico
2006
Chapter 24, Article 6B, New Mexico Statutes Annotated
N.M. Stat. Ann. §§ 24-6B-1 to 24-6B-23
New York
1987
Article 43, Public Health Law, New York
N.Y. Pub. Health Law § 4300 et seq.
North Carolina
2006
Chapter 130A, Article 16, Part 3A, North Carolina General Statutes
N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 130A-412.4 to 130A-412.31
North Dakota
2006
Chapter 23-06.6, North Dakota Century Code
N.D.C.C. §§ 23-06.6-01 to 23-06.6-14
Ohio
2006
Chapter 2108, Human Bodies Or Parts Thereof, Ohio Revised Code
Ohio Rev. Code §§ 2108.02-2108.35
Oklahoma
2006
Title 63, Chapter 46, Article 3, Oklahoma Statutes
Okla. Stat. tit. 63 § 2200.1A - § 2200.18A
Oregon
2013
Chapter 97, Article 9, Oregon Revised Statutes
Or. Rev. Stat. §§ 97.955-97.980
Pennsylvania
1987
Title 20, Chapter 86, Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes
Pa. Cons. Stat. §§ 8611-
Puerto Rico
2006
Title 24, Chapter 150 of the Laws of Puerto Rico
24 L.P.R.A. §§ 3620d-3620y
Rhode Island
2006
Chapter 23-18.6.1, Rhode Island
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-18.6.1-9
South Carolina
2006
Title 44, Chapter 43, Article 14, South Carolina Code Ann.
S.C. Code Ann. §§ 44-43-310 & 44-43-320 & 44-43-345
South Dakota
2006
Title 34, Chapter 26, Article 6, South Dakota Codified Laws
S.D. Codified Laws §§ 34-26-51 to 34-26-59
Tennessee
2006
Title 68, Chapter 30, Part 1, Tennessee Code Annotated
Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 68-30-101 to 68-30-132
Texas
2006
Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter 692A
Tex. Health & Saf. Code §§ 692A.001 - 692A.023
U.S. Virgin Islands
2006
Title 19, Chapter 20, US Virgin Islands Code
V.I. Code tit. 19, § 409
Utah
2006
Title 26b, Chapter 8, Part 3, Utah Code Annotated
Utah Code Ann. §§ 26B-8-301 to 26B-8-320
Vermont
2006
Title 18, Chapter 110, Vermont Statutes Annotated
Vt. Stat. Ann. §§ 5250d-5250k
Virginia
2006
Title 32.1, Chapter 8, Article 2, Virginia Code
Va. Code §§ 32.1-291.1 to 32.1-291.23
Washington
2006
Chapter 70.08, Revised Code of Washington
RCW §§ 70.08.010-70.08.900
West Virginia
2008
Title 16, Article 19, West Virginia Code
W. Va. Code §§ 16-19-11 to 16-19-33
Wisconsin
2006
Chapter 157, Wisconsin Statutes
Wis. Stat. § 157.06
Wyoming
2006
Title 35, Chapter 5, Article 2, Wyoming Statutes Annotated
Wyo. Stat. Ann. §§ 35-5-201 to 35-5-223
Ethical concerns
The UAGA does not specify regulations for organ donation by a prisoner or prohibit an inmate from donating their body or an organ.[4]Christian Longo, a convicted murderer, has played a key role in rousing public debate regarding the rights of the incarcerated to become organ donors.
The retrieval of gametes from the deceased have been the subject of controversy because of the highly publicized court case In re Matter of Daniel Thomas Christy in Iowa, regarding the right to retrieve reproductive cells (posthumous sperm retrieval) from a deceased spouse or partner.[11] The argument against the retrieval of post mortem gametes in this case was that the UAGA stated the purposes of donation were for transplantation, therapy, research, or education.[11]
Since the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act was put into effect in all states, there still has been a donor shortage in the United States.[3][9][10]
^ abcdeThe National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws (2017). "Anatomical Gift Act (1987)". Uniform Law Commission. Archived from the original on 4 April 2017. Retrieved April 3, 2017.
^ abcdefThe National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws (2017). "Anatomical Gift (1968)". Uniform Law Commission. Archived from the original on 4 April 2017. Retrieved April 3, 2017.
^ abcSeals Bersinger, Amanda; Milot, Lisa (2016). "Posthumous Organ Donation as Prisoner Agency and Rehabilitation". DePaul Law Review. 65 (4): 1194–1234.
^ abcdefghijklKielhorn, Kristi (2007–2008). "Giving life after death: the 2006 revision of the uniform anatomical gift act". Drake Law Review. 56 (3): 809–828 – via HeinOnline.
^ abcdeNwabueze, Remigius (2008). "Donated Organs, Property Rights and the Remedial Quagmire". Medical Law Review. 16 (2). Oxford University Press: 1–18. doi:10.1093/medlaw/fwn004. PMID18413357.
^ abcdMcIntosh, Ann (1990). "Regulating the "Gift of Life"-The 1987 Uniform Anatomical Gift Act". Washington Law Review. 65: 171–188 – via HeinOnline.
^ abSpielman, Bethany (2009). "Pushing the dead into the next reproductive frontier: post mortem gamete retrieval under the uniform anatomical gift act". Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics. 37 (2): 331–343. doi:10.1111/j.1748-720X.2009.00376.x. PMID19493077. S2CID35736419.