A. Subject to subsections B and C and unless barred by § 32.1-291.7 or 32.1-291.8, an anatomical gift of a decedent's body or part for purpose of transplantation, therapy, research, or education may be made by any member of the following classes of persons who is reasonably available, in the order of priority listed:
1. An agent of the decedent at the time of death who could have made an anatomical gift under subdivision 2 of § 32.1-291.4 immediately before the decedent's death;
2. The persons who were acting as the guardians of the person of the decedent at the time of death;
3. The spouse of the decedent;
4. Adult children of the decedent;
5. Parents of the decedent;
6. Adult siblings of the decedent;
7. Adult grandchildren of the decedent;
8. Grandparents of the decedent;
9. An adult who exhibited special care and concern for the decedent; and
10. Any other person having the authority to dispose of the decedent's body.
B. If there is more than one member of a class listed in subdivisions A 1, A 2, A 4, A 5, A 6, A 7, or A 8 entitled to make an anatomical gift, an anatomical gift may be made by a member of the class unless that member or a person to which the gift may pass under § 32.1-291.11 knows of an objection by another member of the class. If an objection is known, the gift may be made only by those members who constitute at least 50 percent of the class who are reasonably available.
C. A person may not make an anatomical gift if, at the time of the decedent's death, a person in a prior class under subsection A is reasonably available to make or to object to the making of an anatomical gift.
2007, cc. 92, 907.
Structure Code of Virginia
Chapter 8 - Postmortem Examinations and Services
§ 32.1-277. Office of the Chief Medical Examiner; central and district offices and facilities
§ 32.1-278. Appointment and qualifications of Chief Medical Examiner
§ 32.1-279. Duties of Chief Medical Examiner; teaching legal medicine
§ 32.1-281. Commissioner may obtain additional services and facilities
§ 32.1-282.1. Per diem medicolegal death investigators
§ 32.1-283. Investigation of deaths; obtaining consent to removal of organs, etc.; fees
§ 32.1-291.1. Revised Uniform Anatomical Gift Act; short title
§ 32.1-291.3. Applicability of Act
§ 32.1-291.4. Who may make anatomical gift before donor's death
§ 32.1-291.5. Manner of making anatomical gift before donor's death
§ 32.1-291.6. Amending or revoking anatomical gift before donor's death
§ 32.1-291.7. Refusal to make anatomical gift; effect of refusal
§ 32.1-291.8. Preclusive effect of anatomical gift, amendment, or revocation
§ 32.1-291.9. Who may make anatomical gift of decedent's body or part
§ 32.1-291.10. Manner of making, amending, or revoking anatomical gift of decedent's body or part
§ 32.1-291.11. Persons that may receive anatomical gift; purpose of anatomical gift
§ 32.1-291.12. Search and notification
§ 32.1-291.13. Delivery of document of gift not required; right to examine
§ 32.1-291.14. Rights and duties of procurement organization and others
§ 32.1-291.15. Coordination of procurement and use
§ 32.1-291.16. Sale or purchase of parts prohibited; penalty
§ 32.1-291.16. Sale or purchase of parts prohibited; penalty
§ 32.1-291.17. Falsification, etc of document of gift; penalty
§ 32.1-291.21. Effect of anatomical gift on advance health-care directive
§ 32.1-291.22. Cooperation between Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and procurement organization
§ 32.1-291.24. Uniformity of application and construction
§ 32.1-291.25. Relation to Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act
§ 32.1-292.2. The Virginia Donor Registry
§ 32.1-296. Determination of death
§ 32.1-297. Action for implied warranty in connection with transfer of blood or human tissue
§ 32.1-297.1. The Virginia Transplant Council
§ 32.1-297.2. Discrimination prohibited
§ 32.1-298. Notification of Commissioner and delivery of bodies
§ 32.1-299. Distribution of bodies
§ 32.1-300. Records of bodies distributed
§ 32.1-301. Burial, cremation, or return of bodies after scientific study
§ 32.1-302. Importation of anatomical material
§ 32.1-303. Penalty for trafficking in bodies