Section 21. (a) The chief medical examiner and the district attorneys shall cooperate with procurement organizations to maximize the opportunity to recover anatomical gifts for transplantation, therapy, research or education.
(b) The procurement organization authorized to remove an anatomical gift from a donor whose death is under investigation shall remove the donated part from the donor's body after giving notice to the chief medical examiner and the appropriate district attorney, or their respective designees, subject to this section. The chief medical examiner and the district attorney, or their respective designees, shall approve or deny removal of the anatomical gift within a time period that ensures the preservation of the anatomical gift for transplantation. Unless the district attorney objects, the procurement organization may transport the donor's body for the removal of the anatomical gift consistent with this subsection; provided, however, that the procurement organization shall transport the donor's body to the medical examiner's facilities after removal of the anatomical gift when required. The chief medical examiner, or his designee, may permit the removal of the anatomical gift at the medical examiner's office. The chief medical examiner or district attorney, or their respective designees, shall be present during the removal of the anatomical gift if in their judgment such attendance would facilitate a donation that would otherwise be denied. In that case, the chief medical examiner or district attorney, or their respective designees, may request a biopsy or deny removal of the anatomical gift and shall explain the reasons for determining that those tissues or organs may be involved in the cause of death.
(c) No medical examiner, physician, procurement organization who acts or attempts to act in good faith in accordance with this section shall be liable for that act in a civil action or criminal proceeding.
Structure Massachusetts General Laws
Part I - Administration of the Government
Chapter 113a - Uniform Anatomical Gift Act
Section 4 - Who May Make Anatomical Gift Before Donor's Death
Section 5 - Manner of Making Anatomical Gift Before Donor's Death
Section 6 - Amending or Revoking Anatomical Gift Before Donor's Death
Section 7 - Refusal to Make Anatomical Gift; Effect of Refusal
Section 8 - Preclusive Effect of Anatomical Gift, Amendment, or Revocation
Section 9 - Who May Make Anatomical Gift of Decedent's Body or Part
Section 10 - Manner of Making, Amending, or Revoking Anatomical Gift of Decedent's Body or Part
Section 11 - Persons That May Receive Anatomical Gift; Purpose of Anatomical Gift
Section 12 - Search and Notification
Section 13 - Delivery of Document of Gift Not Required; Right to Examine
Section 14 - Rights and Duties of Procurement Organization and Others
Section 15 - Coordination of Procurement and Use
Section 16 - Sale or Purchase of Parts Prohibited
Section 17 - Other Prohibited Acts
Section 21 - Cooperation Between Medical Examiner and Procurement Organization
Section 23 - Compliance With Donor's Decision
Section 24 - Uniformity of Application and Construction
Section 25 - Relation to Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act