(a) The Legislature of Alabama is acutely aware of the serious shortage of organs needed for transplantation. In its concern with this shortage of organs, the Legislature intends to establish in this article, a mechanism for the requesting of donor organs of any person who has died in a hospital and has not made an anatomical gift to take effect upon death.

Terms Used In Alabama Code 22-19-140

  • Donor: The person who makes a gift.
  • Gift: A voluntary transfer or conveyance of property without consideration, or for less than full and adequate consideration based on fair market value.
  • person: includes a corporation as well as a natural person. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
(b) The Legislature of Alabama believes the citizens of Alabama are compassionate and loving, and, in the appropriate circumstances, will respond to the request for organs for transplantation in that such a gift is, many times, literally, a “gift of life”.
(c) It is also the intent of the Legislature of Alabama to encourage organ donation in Alabama by establishing “The Lifesaving Organ Procurement Act of 1986.”