IAC&ME POSITION STATEMENT

The International Association of Coroner & Medical Examiners (IAC&ME) supports the right of an individual and their legal next-of-kin to choose tissue and organ donation and encourages and supports such concept.

However, IAC&ME cannot endorse the revised Uniform Anatomical Gift Act as it is currently written for the following reasons:

• If passed as written it would interfere with the duties of the Coroner/Medical Examiner.
• The Uniform Anatomical Gift Act does not consider or distinguish between organ recovery, tissue recovery, research and/or educational donations.
• The procedure for denial does not allow Coroners or Medical Examiners the ability to factually determine cause and manner of death and is not in the best interest of the decedent and their family. The proposed act may in reality interfere with bringing those person/persons responsible for the death of the decedent to justice.
• Coroner/Medical Examiners must have the statutory ability to deny organ and tissue retrieval as well as other donations without pressure, interference or statutory dictate.
• The proposal could lead to the loss of criminal forensic evidence, which could possibly or reasonably compromise person/persons who are criminally responsible for the death of individuals.