AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 63 and Title 68, relative to anatomical gifts.
The proposed amendments under SB2179 significantly impact current laws governing organ and tissue donation in Tennessee. Under the existing law, the response time of procurement organizations to contact designated individuals after a decedent's death is outlined with notable specifications. The revisions would enhance the protection of individual rights by ensuring that no anatomical gifts are assumed in the absence of explicit consent, addressing concerns about potential overreach in organ procurement processes.
Senate Bill 2179 aims to amend certain sections of the Tennessee Code Annotated, specifically relating to anatomical gifts. The bill introduces provisions that clarify the process by which individuals can refuse to make anatomical gifts of their body or parts. It stipulates that a terminal patient may refuse to make such gifts through various forms of communication, including an oral statement. Furthermore, if a refusal is documented, it bars any other party from making or altering an anatomical gift without the explicit wish of the individual or terminal patient being respected. This provision aims to protect the autonomy of individuals regarding their bodies after death.
One notable point of contention surrounding SB2179 is the balance between protecting individual rights and the operational efficiency of organ procurement organizations. Advocates of the bill argue that it fortifies individuals' autonomy over their anatomical gifts, ensuring that decisions made in life are upheld rigorously posthumously. Nonetheless, some stakeholders may express concerns regarding the potential delay this process may cause in organ procurement efforts, emphasizing the importance of timely action to facilitate successful donations. Discussions around this bill will likely highlight the ethical implications and practicality of organ donation practices.
SB2179 includes specific provisions detailing that if a decedent has refused to make an anatomical gift, the procurement organization has restrictions on contacting designated individuals specified under the relevant sections of the state code. Additionally, the bill stipulates a civil penalty of five hundred dollars for parties that violate these provisions, reinforcing the enforcement mechanism aimed at compliance with the new rules surrounding anatomical gifts.