S-1366.2                   _______________________________________________

                                                     SENATE BILL 5783

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State of Washington                              53rd Legislature                             1993 Regular Session

By Senator L. Smith

Read first time 02/15/93.  Referred to Committee on Health & Human Services.

Requiring hospitals that participate in public assistance to comply with organ and tissue donor requirements.

          AN ACT Relating to organ donations; and amending RCW 68.50.500.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

        Sec. 1.  RCW 68.50.500 and 1987 c 331 s 71 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Each hospital shall develop procedures for identifying potential organ and tissue donors.  The procedures shall require that any deceased individual's next of kin or other individual, as set forth in RCW 68.50.350, at or near the time of notification of death be asked whether the deceased was an organ donor.  If not, the family shall be informed of the option to donate organs and tissues pursuant to the uniform anatomical gift act.  With the approval of the designated next of kin or other individual, as set forth in RCW 68.50.350, the hospital shall then notify an established eye bank, tissue bank, or organ procurement agency including those organ procurement agencies associated with a national organ procurement transportation network or other eligible donee, as specified in RCW 68.50.360, and cooperate in the procurement of the anatomical gift or gifts.  The procedures shall encourage reasonable discretion and sensitivity to the family circumstances in all discussions regarding donations of tissue or organs.  The procedures may take into account the deceased individual's religious beliefs or obvious nonsuitability for organ and tissue donation.  Laws pertaining to the jurisdiction of the coroner shall be complied with in all cases of reportable deaths pursuant to RCW 68.50.010.

(2) A hospital licensed under chapter 70.41 RCW shall comply with this section as a condition of participating under chapter 74.08 or 74.09 RCW.

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