(a)  A donor may make an anatomical gift:

(1)  By authorizing a statement or symbol indicating that the donor has made an anatomical gift to be imprinted on the donor’s driver’s license or identification card;

(2)  In a will;

(3)  During a terminal illness or injury of the donor, by any form of communication addressed to at least two (2) adults, at least one of whom is a disinterested witness; or

(4)  As provided in subsection (b).

Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 23-18.6.1-5

  • Anatomical gift: means a donation of all or part of a human body to take effect after the donor's death for the purpose of transplantation, therapy, research, or education. See Rhode Island General Laws 23-18.6.1-2
  • Disinterested witness: means a witness other than the spouse, child, parent, sibling, grandchild, grandparent, or guardian of the individual who makes, amends, revokes, or refuses to make an anatomical gift, or another adult who exhibited special care and concern for the individual. See Rhode Island General Laws 23-18.6.1-2
  • Donor: The person who makes a gift.
  • Donor: means an individual whose body or part is the subject of an anatomical gift. See Rhode Island General Laws 23-18.6.1-2
  • Donor registry: means the Rhode Island Donor Registry established under § 31-10-26. See Rhode Island General Laws 23-18.6.1-2
  • Gift: A voluntary transfer or conveyance of property without consideration, or for less than full and adequate consideration based on fair market value.
  • Identification card: means an identification card issued by the department of motor vehicles. See Rhode Island General Laws 23-18.6.1-2
  • Person: means an individual, corporation, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, limited liability company, association, joint venture, public corporation, government or governmental subdivision, agency, or instrumentality, or any other legal or commercial entity. See Rhode Island General Laws 23-18.6.1-2
  • Record: means information that is inscribed on a tangible medium or that is stored in an electronic or other medium and is retrievable in perceivable form. See Rhode Island General Laws 23-18.6.1-2
  • Sign: means , with the present intent to authenticate or adopt a record:

    (i)  To execute or adopt a tangible symbol; or

    (ii)  To attach to or logically associate with the record an electronic symbol, sound, or process. See Rhode Island General Laws 23-18.6.1-2

(b)  A donor or other person authorized to make an anatomical gift under this chapter may make a gift by authorizing inclusion of the donor on a donor registry, a donor card or other record signed by the donor or other person making the gift. If the donor or other person is physically unable to sign a record, the record may be signed by another individual at the direction of the donor or other person and must:

(1)  Be witnessed by at least two (2) adults, at least one of whom is a disinterested witness, who have signed at the request of the donor or the other person; and

(2)  State that it has been signed and witnessed as provided in paragraph (1).

(c)  Revocation, suspension, expiration, or cancellation of a driver’s license or identification card upon which an anatomical gift is indicated does not invalidate the gift.

(d)  An anatomical gift made by will takes effect upon the donor’s death whether or not the will is probated. Invalidation of the will after the donor’s death does not invalidate the gift.

History of Section.
P.L. 2007, ch. 476, § 2.