Anatomical gift recipients; unnamed recipients; anatomical gift uses; rules; delivery of anatomical gift documents; amendment; revocation
Ind. Code § 29-2-16.1-10
in effectSec. 10. (a) An anatomical gift may be made to the following persons named in the document of gift:
(1) A hospital.
(2) An accredited medical school, dental school, college, or university.
(3) An organ procurement organization.
(4) An appropriate person for research or education.
(5) Subject to subsection (b), an individual designated by the person making the anatomical gift if the individual is the recipient of the part.
(6) An eye bank.
(7) A tissue bank.
(b) If an anatomical gift to an individual under subsection (a)(5) cannot be transplanted into the individual, the part passes in accordance with subsection (g) in the absence of an express, contrary indication by the person making the anatomical gift.
(c) If an anatomical gift of one (1) or more specific parts or of all parts is made in a document of gift that does not name a person described in subsection (a) but identifies the purpose for which an anatomical gift may be used, the following rules apply:
(1) If the part is an eye and the gift is for the purpose of:
(A) transplantation;
(B) therapy;
(C) education; or
(D) research;
the gift passes to the appropriate eye bank that has an agreement to recover donated eyes from patients who die within the hospital. The eye bank is considered to be the custodian of the donated eye.
(2) If the part is tissue and the gift is for the purpose of:
(A) transplantation; or
(B) therapy;
the gift passes to the appropriate tissue bank that has an agreement to recover donated tissue from patients that die within the hospital. The tissue bank is considered to be the custodian of the donated tissue.
(3) If the part is an organ and the gift is for the purpose of:
(A) transplantation; or
(B) therapy;
the gift passes to the appropriate organ procurement organization that has an agreement to recover donated organs from patients who die within the hospital. The procurement organization is considered to be the custodian of the donated organs.
(4) If the part is an organ, an eye, or tissue from a patient who dies within a hospital and the gift is for the purpose of research or education, the gift passes to the appropriate procurement organization that has an agreement to recover donated organs, tissue, or eyes from patients who die within the hospital.
(d) For the purpose of subsection (c), if there is more than one (1) purpose of an anatomical gift set forth in the document of gift but the purposes are not set forth in any priority, the gift must be used for transplantation or therapy, if suitable. If the gift cannot be used for transplantation or therapy, the gift may be used for research or education.
(e) If an anatomical gift of one (1) or more specific parts is made in a document of gift that does not name a person described in subsection (a) and does not identify the purpose of the gift, the gift may be used only for transplantation, research, or therapy, and the gift passes in accordance with subsection (g).
(f) If a document of gift specifies only a general intent to make an anatomical gift by words such as "donor", "organ donor", or "body donor", or by a symbol or statement of similar import, the gift may be used only for transplantation, research, or therapy, and the gift passes in accordance with subsection (g).
(g) For purposes of subsections (b), (e), and (f), the following rules apply:
(1) If the part is an eye, the gift passes to the appropriate eye bank.
(2) If the part is tissue, the gift passes to the appropriate tissue bank.
(3) If the part is an organ, the gift passes to the appropriate organ procurement organization as custodian of the organ.
(h) An anatomical gift of an organ for transplantation, therapy, or research, other than an anatomical gift under subsection (a)(2), passes to the organ procurement organization as custodian of the organ.
(i) If an anatomical gift does not pass pursuant to subsections (a) through (h) or the decedent's body or part is not used for transplantation, therapy, research, or education, custody of the body or part passes to the person under obligation to dispose of the body or part.
(j) A person may not accept an anatomical gift if the person knows that the:
(1) gift was not effectively made under section 4 or 9 of this chapter; or
(2) decedent made a refusal under section 6 of this chapter that was not revoked.
(k) For purposes of subsection (j), if a person knows that an anatomical gift was made on a document of gift, the person is considered to know of any amendment or revocation of the gift or any refusal to make an anatomical gift on the same document of gift.
(l) If the gift is made by the donor to a specified donee, the will, card, or other document, or an executed copy thereof, may be delivered to the donee to expedite the appropriate procedures immediately after death. Delivery is not necessary to the validity of the gift. The will, card, or other document, or an executed copy thereof, may be deposited in any hospital, bank or storage facility, or registry office that accepts it for safekeeping or for facilitation of procedures after death. On request of any interested party upon or after the donor's death, the person in possession shall produce the document for examination.
(m) If the will, card, or other document, or executed copy thereof, has been delivered to a specified donee, the donor may amend or revoke the gift by:
(1) the execution and delivery to the donee of a signed statement;
(2) an oral statement made in the presence of two (2) persons and communicated to the donee;
(3) a statement during a terminal illness or injury addressed to an attending physician and communicated to the donee; or
(4) a signed card or document found on the decedent's person or in the decedent's effects.
(n) Any document of gift which has not been delivered to the donee may be revoked by the donor in the manner set out in subsection (m) or by destruction, cancellation, or mutilation of the document and all executed copies thereof.
(o) Any gift made by a will may also be amended or revoked in the manner provided for amendment or revocation of wills, or as provided in subsection (m).
(p) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (a)(2), this chapter does not affect the allocation of organs for transplantation or therapy.
As added by P.L.147-2007, SEC.12.
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://iga.in.gov/laws/2026/ic/titles/29Fetched: 10/17/2026