AL SB22

Medical examiners in Alabama must notify next of kin through law enforcement when retaining a deceased person's entire organ or organs for additional testing required to determine identification, cause, or manner of death.

Medical examiners are prohibited from retaining deceased persons' organs for research or any other purpose unrelated to determining identification, cause, or manner of death without prior notification to and approval from the next of kin.

Exceptions to notification requirements apply when directed otherwise by the Governor, Attorney General, district attorney, or circuit court judge order.

Applies to all medical examiners in the state, including those employed by the Department of Forensic Sciences.

Effective date is the first day of the third month following passage and gubernatorial approval.