Bill > SB1986

This bill allows medical examiners to deny an anatomical gift, which is the donation of a body or body part for transplantation, therapy, medical research, or education, if the death occurred under suspicious, unusual, or unnatural circumstances and the medical examiner believes that removing the body part would compromise a forensic investigation, destroy evidence about the cause of death, unreasonably delay an autopsy, or conflict with their duties. Before an anatomical gift can be procured, the organization responsible for collecting the donation must provide the medical examiner with a list of the gifts to be recovered, the planned surgical approach and timing, and assurances of compliance with any conditions set by the examiner. After the procurement, the organization must provide the medical examiner with photographs of the body, any hospital-collected bodily fluids for forensic testing, results of any additional tests requested by the examiner, and copies of records from the procurement activities. The bill also clarifies that a medical examiner's decision regarding an anatomical gift, made in good faith, is protected from liability, and establishes that the medical examiner's decision prevails in case of disagreement with the procurement organization. Additionally, it mandates the development of a protocol by the chief medical examiner and organ procurement agencies for situations where this bill applies.

Health and Social Services

https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Billinfo/default.aspx?BillNumber=SB1986&ga=114