CO Code § 15-19-214 (2021)
2021 Colorado Code|Title 15 - Probate, Trusts, and Fiduciaries|Article 19 - Treatment of Human Bodies After Death|Part 2 - Revised Uniform Anatomical Gift Act|§ 15-19-214. Rights and Duties of Procurement Organization and Others

  When a hospital refers an individual at or near death to a procurement organization, the organization shall make a reasonable search of the records of the department of revenue and any donor registry that it knows exists for the geographical area in which the individual resides to ascertain whether the individual has made an anatomical gift.    A procurement organization must be allowed reasonable access to information in the records of the department of revenue to ascertain whether an individual at or near death is a donor.    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 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 During the examination period, measures necessary to ensure the medical suitability of the part may not be withdrawn unless the hospital or procurement organization knows that the individual expressed a contrary intent.    Unless prohibited by law other than this part 2, at any time after a donor's death, the person to which a part passes under section 15-19-211 may conduct any reasonable examination necessary to ensure the medical suitability of the body or part for its intended purpose.    Unless prohibited by law other than this part 2, an examination under subsection (c) or (d) of this section may include an examination of all medical and dental records of the donor or prospective donor.    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 the refusal.    Upon referral by a hospital under subsection (a) of this section, a procurement organization shall make a reasonable search for any person listed in section 15-19-209 having priority to make an anatomical gift on behalf of a 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.    Subject to sections 15-19-211 (i) and 15-19-223, the rights of the person to which a part passes under section 15-19-211 are superior to the 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 part 2, a person that accepts an anatomical gift of an entire body may allow any form of final disposition and use of remains in a funeral service. If the gift is of a part, the person to which the part passes under section 15-19-211, upon the death of the donor and before final disposition, shall cause the part to be removed without unnecessary mutilation.    Neither the physician who attends the decedent 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.    A physician or technician may remove a donated part from the body of a donor that the physician or technician is qualified to remove.     History. Source: L. 2017: Entire part added with relocations,(SB 17-223), ch. 158, p. 548 , § 1, effective August 9. L. 2021: (h) amended,(SB 21-006), ch. 123, p. 496, § 20, effective September 7.    Editor's note:    This section is similar to former § 12-34-114 as it existed prior to 2017.    Section 31(2) of chapter 123 (SB 21-006), Session Laws of Colorado 2021, provides that the act changing this section applies to final dispositions of human remains or human fetuses made on or after September 7, 2021.     ANNOTATION   Law reviews. For article, “Disposition of Bodily Remains: Post-Death Aspects”, see 12 Colo. Law. 439 (1983).