1. 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:

(1) A law enforcement officer, firefighter, paramedic, or other emergency rescuer finding the individual; and

Terms Used In Missouri Laws 194.260

  • Donor: The person who makes a gift.
  • following: when used by way of reference to any section of the statutes, mean the section next preceding or next following that in which the reference is made, unless some other section is expressly designated in the reference. See Missouri Laws 1.020
  • Gift: A voluntary transfer or conveyance of property without consideration, or for less than full and adequate consideration based on fair market value.
  • person: may extend and be applied to bodies politic and corporate, and to partnerships and other unincorporated associations. See Missouri Laws 1.020

(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.

2. If a document of gift or a refusal to make an anatomical gift is located by the search required by subdivision (1) of subsection 1 of this section 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.

3. 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.