Missouri Revised Statutes
Chapter 194 - Death — Disposition of Dead Bodies
Section 194.265 - Referral to procurement organization, diligent search of donor registry required — reasonable examination of body parts permitted, when — search for minor's parents required, when — attending physician shall not procure, when.

Effective - 28 Aug 2022, 2 histories
194.265. Referral to procurement organization, diligent search of donor registry required — reasonable examination of body parts permitted, when — search for minor's parents required, when — attending physician shall not procure, when. — 1. When a hospital refers an individual at or near death to a procurement organization, the organization shall make a reasonable search of any donor registry and other applicable records that it knows exist for the geographical area in which the individual resides to ascertain whether the individual has made an anatomical gift.
2. A procurement organization must be allowed reasonable access to information in the records of the department of health and senior services and department of revenue to ascertain whether an individual at or near death is a donor.
3. When a hospital refers an individual at or near death to a procurement organization, the organization may conduct any reasonable examination necessary to ensure the medical suitability of a part that is or could be the subject of an anatomical gift for transplantation, therapy, research, or education from a donor, potential donor, or a prospective donor. During the examination period, measures necessary to ensure the medical suitability of the part may not be withdrawn unless the hospital or procurement organization knows a contrary intent had or has been expressed by the individual or an agent of the individual, or if the individual is incapacitated and he or she has no agent, knows a contrary intent has been expressed by any person listed in section 194.245 having priority to make an anatomical gift on behalf of the individual.
4. Unless prohibited by law other than sections 194.210 to 194.294, at any time after a donor's death, the person to which a part passes under section 194.255 may conduct any reasonable examination necessary to ensure the medical suitability of the body or part for its intended purpose.
5. Unless prohibited by law other than sections 194.210 to 194.294, an examination under subsection 3 or 4 of this section may include an examination of all medical records of the donor, potential donor, or prospective donor.
6. Upon the death of a minor who was a donor or had signed a refusal, unless a procurement organization knows the minor is emancipated, the procurement organization shall conduct a reasonable search for the parents of the minor and provide the parents with an opportunity to revoke or amend the anatomical gift or revoke a refusal.
7. Upon referral by a hospital under subsection 1 of this section, a procurement organization shall make a reasonable search for any person listed in section 194.245 having priority to make an anatomical gift on behalf of a donor, potential donor, or prospective donor. If a procurement organization receives information that an anatomical gift to any other person was made, amended, or revoked, it shall promptly advise the other person of all relevant information.
8. Subject to subsection 9 of section 194.255 and section 58.785, the rights of the person to which a part passes under section 194.255 are superior to rights of all others with respect to the part. The person may accept or reject an anatomical gift in whole or in part. Subject to the terms of the document of gift and this act*, a person that accepts an anatomical gift of an entire body may allow embalming or cremation and use of remains in a funeral service. If the gift is of a part, the person to which the part passes under section 194.255, upon the death of the donor and before embalming, burial, or cremation, shall cause the part to be removed without unnecessary mutilation.
9. Neither the physician who attends the decedent immediately prior to or at death nor the physician who determines the time of the decedent's death may participate in the procedures for removing or transplanting a part from the decedent.
10. No physician who removes or transplants a part from the decedent, or a procurement organization, shall have primary responsibility for the health care treatment, or health care decision-making for such individual's terminal condition during the hospitalization for which the individual becomes a donor.
11. A physician or technician may remove a donated part from the body of a donor that the physician or technician is qualified to remove.
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(L. 2008 S.B. 1139, A.L. 2022 H.B. 2331 merged with S.B. 710)
*"This act" (S.B. 1139, 2008) and (H.B. 2331 merged with S.B. 710, 2022) contained numerous sections. Consult Disposition of Sections table for a definitive listing.

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