Title: An act relating to anatomical gifts.

Brief Description: Repealing RCW 68.50.560.

Sponsors: By Representatives B. Sullivan, Cody, Walsh and Nixon.

Brief History:

Health Care: 2/24/05, 2/28/05 [DP].

Floor Activity:

Passed House: 3/10/05, 94-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 15 members: Representatives Cody, Chair; Campbell, Vice Chair; Morrell, Vice Chair; Bailey, Ranking Minority Member; Curtis, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Alexander, Appleton, Clibborn, Condotta, Green, Hinkle, Lantz, Moeller, Schual-Berke and Skinner.

Staff: Chris Blake (786-7392).

Background:

Washington's Uniform Anatomical Gift Act allows individuals to donate all or part of their bodies to another person. Such organ donors may indicate their intent to donate by signing a document of gift. This document may be a driver's license, a donor card, a will, or other written statement of the donor's intentions. Upon admission to a hospital, the hospital must ask patients and their family members whether or not the patient is or would like to become an organ and tissue donor. Hospitals are required to search the personal effects of patients to determine whether or not they are organ donors.

In 2003 a program was established to require that the Department of Licensing transmit drivers license information for individuals that have indicated their intentions to be organ and tissue donors to organ procurement organizations seeking to create a statewide registry of organ and tissue donors in Washington.

Summary of Bill:

The requirement that hospitals ask patients and family members about the organ donor status of a patient and conduct a search of the patient's personal effects is repealed.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: This bill eliminates a requirement of hospitals that is no longer necessary because of the organ procurement organization's statewide organ and tissue registry which was recently created.

Testimony Against: None.

Persons Testifying: Vicki Austin, Life Center Northwest.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.