SB68 Alabama 2020 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Linda Coleman-MadisonSenator

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2020

Title

Medical Examiners, required to notify next of kin when retaining organ of deceased, prohibit medical examiner for retaining organ for use not in conjunction with autopsy

Summary

The bill would require medical examiners to notify the next of kin through law enforcement before retaining a deceased person’s organ for testing, and would prohibit retaining organs for non-death-determination purposes without consent.

What This Bill Does

If enacted, it would require notification of the next of kin via the appropriate law enforcement agency when an organ is retained for testing to determine identification or the cause or manner of death. It would also ban medical examiners from keeping an organ for research or other purposes not directly tied to a death determination without the next of kin’s notification and approval. The notification and approval process involves the law enforcement agency.

Who It Affects

• Next of kin of deceased individuals – must be notified through the appropriate law enforcement agency when an organ is retained for testing and must approve non-determination uses.
• Medical examiners (including those with the Department of Forensic Sciences) – must notify the next of kin and obtain approval before retaining an organ for non-determination research or other purposes, using the law enforcement channel for notification.

Key Provisions

• Medical examiner must notify the next of kin through the appropriate law enforcement agency when retaining an organ or organs for additional testing required to determine identification or the cause or manner of death.
• Medical examiner is prohibited from retaining an organ for research or other purposes not related to identification or the cause or manner of death without notification to, and approval by, the appropriate next of kin.
• The act becomes effective on the first day of the third month following its passage and approval by the Governor, or otherwise becoming law.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 23, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Medical Examiners