(a) The following persons shall make a reasonable search of an individual who the person reasonably believes is dead or near death for a document of gift or other information identifying the individual as a donor or as an individual who made a refusal:

Terms Used In Alabama Code 22-19-171

  • Donor: The person who makes a gift.
  • following: means next after. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
  • 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
(1) a law enforcement officer, firefighter, paramedic, or other emergency rescuer finding the individual; and
(2) if no other source of the information is immediately available, a hospital, as soon as practical after the individual’s arrival at the hospital.
(b) If a document of gift or a refusal to make an anatomical gift is located by the search required by subsection (a)(1) and the individual or deceased individual to whom it relates is taken to a hospital, the person responsible for conducting the search shall send the document of gift or refusal to the hospital.
(c) A person is not subject to criminal or civil liability for failing to discharge the duties imposed by this section but may be subject to administrative sanctions.