In §§ 34-26-48 to 34-26-72, inclusive:

(1) “Adult” means an individual who is at least eighteen years of age.

Terms Used In South Dakota Codified Laws 34-26-49

  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • 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.
  • Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
  • Partnership: A voluntary contract between two or more persons to pool some or all of their assets into a business, with the agreement that there will be a proportional sharing of profits and losses.
  • Person: includes natural persons, partnerships, associations, cooperative corporations, limited liability companies, and corporations. See South Dakota Codified Laws 2-14-2
  • Power of attorney: A written instrument which authorizes one person to act as another's agent or attorney. The power of attorney may be for a definite, specific act, or it may be general in nature. The terms of the written power of attorney may specify when it will expire. If not, the power of attorney usually expires when the person granting it dies. Source: OCC

(2) “Agent” means an individual:

(A) Authorized to make health care decisions on the principal’s behalf by a power of attorney for health care; or

(B) Expressly authorized to make an anatomical gift on the principal’s behalf by any other record signed by the principal.

(3) “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.

(4) “Decedent” means a deceased individual whose body or part is or may be the source of an anatomical gift. The term does not include a blastocyst, embryo, or fetus that is the subject of an induced abortion.

(5) “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. The term does not include a person to which an anatomical gift could pass under § 34-26-58.

(6) “Document of gift” means a donor card or other record used to make an anatomical gift. The term includes a statement or symbol on a driver’s license, identification card, or donor registry.

(7) “Donor” means an individual whose body or part is the subject of an anatomical gift.

(8) “Donor registry” means a database that contains records of anatomical gifts and amendments to or revocations of anatomical gifts.

(9) “Driver’s license” means a license or permit issued by the Department of Public Safety to operate a vehicle, whether or not conditions are attached to the license or permit.

(10) “Eye bank” means a person that is licensed, accredited, or regulated under federal or state law to engage in the recovery, screening, testing, processing, storage, or distribution of human eyes or portions of human eyes.

(11) “Guardian” means a person appointed by a court to make decisions regarding the support, care, education, health, or welfare of an individual. The term does not include a guardian ad litem.

(12) “Hospital” means a facility licensed as a hospital under the law of any state or a facility operated as a hospital by the United States, a state, or a subdivision of a state.

(13) “Identification card” means an identification card issued by the Department of Public Safety.

(14) “Know” means to have actual knowledge.

(15) “Minor” means an individual who is under eighteen years of age.

(16) “Organ procurement organization” means a person designated by the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services as an organ procurement organization.

(17) “Parent” means a parent whose parental rights have not been terminated.

(18) “Part” means an organ, an eye, or tissue of a human being. The term does not include the whole body.

(19) “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.

(20) “Physician” means an individual authorized to practice medicine or osteopathy under the law of any state.