157.06(3)(a)6.
6. A guardian of the person of the decedent at the time of death.
157.06(3)(b)
(b) An anatomical gift may not be made by an individual listed in
par. (a) if any of the following applies:
157.06(3)(b)1.
1. An individual in a prior class is available at the time of death to make an anatomical gift and that individual objects to the making of an anatomical gift.
157.06(3)(b)2.
2. The individual proposing to make an anatomical gift knows of a refusal or contrary indications by the decedent.
157.06(3)(b)3.
3. The individual proposing to make an anatomical gift knows of an objection to making an anatomical gift by a member of the individual's class or a prior class.
157.06(3)(c)
(c) An individual authorized under
par. (a) shall make an anatomical gift of all or a part of the decedent's body by doing one of the following:
157.06(3)(c)1.
1. Executing a document of gift that is signed by the individual.
157.06(3)(c)2.
2. Making a telegraphic, recorded telephonic or other recorded message, or other form of communication to another that is reduced to writing and signed by the recipient at the time it is received.
157.06(3)(d)
(d) Any member of the same class as or a prior class to an individual authorized under
par. (a) who has made an anatomical gift under
par. (a) may revoke the gift if, before procedures have begun for the removal of a part from the body of the decedent, the member so informs the physician or enucleator who will remove the part of the revocation.
157.06(3)(e)
(e) A failure to make an anatomical gift under
par. (a) is not an objection to the making of an anatomical gift unless the failure is accompanied by an objection to the making of an anatomical gift.
157.06(4)
(4) Notification and authorization by coroner or medical examiner. 157.06(4)(ag)(ag) If a decedent is within the custody of a coroner or medical examiner and if there is no evidence that the decedent has made or refused to make an anatomical gift, the coroner or medical examiner shall contact by telephone the organ procurement organization designated for the region in which the death occurs. The coroner or medical examiner shall provide the organ procurement organization with information, if known to the coroner or medical examiner, concerning the decedent's age, the cause of the decedent's death and, if available, the decedent's medical history.
157.06(4)(am)
(am) The coroner or medical examiner may release and permit the removal of a part from, a decedent within that official's custody, for transplantation or therapy, if all of the following apply:
157.06(4)(am)1.
1. The official has received a request for the part of the body from a hospital, physician or organ procurement organization.
157.06(4)(am)2.
2. The official has made a reasonable effort, taking into account the useful life of the part of the body, to locate and examine the decedent's medical records and inform individuals listed in
sub. (3) (a) of their option to make, or object to making, an anatomical gift.
157.06(4)(am)3.
3. The official does not know of a refusal or contrary indication by the decedent or of an objection by an individual having priority to act as listed in
sub. (3) (a).
157.06(4)(am)4.
4. The removal will be by a physician, except for the following:
157.06(4)(am)4.a.
a. In the case of eyes, the removal may be by a physician or by an enucleator.
157.06(4)(am)4.b.
b. In the case of tissue or bone, the removal may be by a physician or by a technician.
157.06(4)(am)5.
5. The removal will not interfere with any autopsy or investigation.
157.06(4)(am)6.
6. The removal will be in accordance with accepted medical standards.
157.06(4)(am)7.
7. Cosmetic restoration will be done to the decedent's body, if appropriate.
157.06(4)(b)
(b) An official releasing, and permitting the removal of a part of, a human body shall maintain a permanent record of the name of the decedent, the name of the person making the request, the date and purpose of the request, the part of the body requested and the name of the person to whom it was released.
157.06(5)
(5) Policies; organ procurement organization notification; required request; search and notification. 157.06(5)(a)(a) Each hospital shall develop and adopt written policies for providing information to individuals on how to become part donors and shall make available to individuals informational brochures that discuss donation of parts.
157.06(5)(b)1.1. If at or near the time of death of a patient there is no medical record or evidence obtained under
par. (c) that the patient has made, revoked or refused to make an anatomical gift, the hospital administrator or a representative designated by the administrator shall discuss with an available individual, under the priority established in
sub. (3) (a), the option to make or refuse to make an anatomical gift and request that the individual make an anatomical gift of all or a part of the decedent's body. Alternatively, the administrator shall contact by telephone the organ procurement organization designated for the region of which the hospital is a part. If the administrator or representative contacts the organ procurement organization, he or she shall provide the organ procurement organization with the identifier number of the patient, the patient's age, the actual or potential cause of the patient's death and, if available, the patient's medical history.
157.06(5)(b)2.
2. If the organ procurement organization is contacted under
subd. 1., the organ procurement organization shall, in consultation with the attending physician of the patient under
subd. 1., determine if an anatomical gift is suitable, based upon accepted medical standards, for a purpose specified in
sub. (6) (a). If the organ procurement organization and the patient's attending physician determine that an anatomical gift is not so suitable, hospital personnel shall make a notation to this effect in the patient's medical record. If the organ procurement organization and the patient's attending physician determine that an anatomical gift is so suitable, an organ procurement organization representative or a requester designated by the organ procurement organization shall discuss with an available individual, under the priority established in
sub. (3) (a), the option to make or refuse to make an anatomical gift and request that the individual make an anatomical gift of all or a part of the decedent's body.
157.06(5)(b)3.
3. The hospital administrator or representative or the organ procurement organization representative or designated requester shall make the request with reasonable discretion and sensitivity to the circumstances of the family. A request need not be made if the gift is not suitable, based upon accepted medical standards, for a purpose specified in
sub. (6) (a) or if the requester knows that the patient, or the member of the class of individuals to whom the request would be directed under
sub. (3) (a), has a cultural or religious objection or any other objection to the making of an anatomical gift. An entry shall be made in the medical record of the patient, in accordance with the rules promulgated under
par. (f), stating the name and affiliation of the individual making the request and the name, response and relationship to the patient of the individual to whom the request was made.
157.06(5)(bm)
(bm) If at or near the time of death of a patient a hospital knows that an anatomical gift of all or a part of the patient's body has been made under
sub. (3) (a), that a release and removal of a part of the patient's body has been permitted under
sub. (4) or that a patient or an individual identified as in transit to the hospital is a donor, the hospital shall notify the donee if one is named and known to the hospital. If a donee is neither named nor known to the hospital, the hospital shall notify an appropriate procurement organization. The hospital shall cooperate in the implementation of the anatomical gift or release and removal of a part of the body of the patient or individual.
157.06(5)(c)
(c) All of the following persons, under the following circumstances, shall make a reasonable search for a document of gift or other information identifying the individual as a donor or as an individual who has revoked or refused to make an anatomical gift:
157.06(5)(c)1.
1. A law enforcement officer, fire fighter, emergency medical technician - paramedic, ambulance service provider or emergency medical technician - basic who finds an individual whom the person believes is dead or near death.
157.06(5)(c)2.
2. A hospital, upon the admission of an individual who is at or near the time of death, if there is not immediately available any other source of that information.
157.06(5)(d)
(d) If a document of gift, revocation of a document of gift or evidence of refusal to make an anatomical gift is located by the search required by
par. (c) 1. and the individual or decedent to whom it relates is taken to a hospital, the hospital shall be notified of the contents and the person locating the document, revocation or other evidence shall send it to the hospital.
157.06(5)(f)
(f) The department of health and family services shall promulgate rules that do all of the following:
157.06(5)(f)1.
1. Set forth policies and procedures to be followed for discussing the anatomical gift donation process with members of the patient's family in situations under
par. (b) 2. and
3. in which there is or is not a document of gift.
157.06(5)(f)2.
2. Prescribe the manner in which information obtained under
par. (b) 2. and
3. regarding anatomical gift donations, revocations and refusals shall be placed in the patient's medical record so that it is readily accessible to hospital and other medical personnel in the event of the death of the patient.
157.06(6)
(6) Donees; purposes of anatomical gifts. 157.06(6)(a)(a) Any of the following persons may become donees of anatomical gifts for the purposes stated:
157.06(6)(a)1.
1. A hospital, physician or organ procurement organization, for transplantation, therapy, medical or dental education, research, or advancement of medical or dental science.
157.06(6)(a)2.
2. An accredited medical or dental school, college or university for education, research or advancement of medical or dental science.
157.06(6)(a)3.
3. A designated individual for transplantation or therapy needed by that individual.
157.06(6)(b)
(b) A donor may make an anatomical gift to a designated donee or without designating a donee. If a donee is not designated or if the donee is not available or rejects the anatomical gift, any hospital may accept the anatomical gift.
157.06(6)(c)
(c) If the donee knows of the decedent's refusal or contrary indications to make an anatomical gift or that an anatomical gift by a member of a class having priority to act is opposed by a member of the same class or a prior class under
sub. (3) (a), the donee may not accept the anatomical gift.
157.06(7)(a)(a) Delivery of a document of gift during the donor's lifetime to another is not required for the validity of an anatomical gift.
157.06(7)(b)
(b) If an anatomical gift is made to a designated donee, the document of gift, or a copy, may be delivered to the donee to expedite the appropriate procedures after the donor's death. The document of gift, or a copy, may be deposited in any hospital, organ procurement organization or registry office that accepts it for safekeeping or for facilitation of procedures after death. On request of an interested person, upon or after the donor's death, the person in possession shall allow the interested person to examine or copy the document of gift.
157.06(8)(a)(a) Rights of a donee created by an anatomical gift are superior to rights of others except for autopsies under
sub. (10) (b). A donee may accept or reject an anatomical gift. If a donee accepts an anatomical gift of an entire body for a purpose other than transplantation or therapy, the body may not be delivered to the donee or the donee's agent if the surviving spouse or other person who assumes custody of the body requests a funeral service or other last rites for the deceased. If such a request is made, the body may not be delivered until after the funeral or rites have been conducted. If the entire body is given for transplantation or therapeutic purposes or if the gift is of a part of a body, the donee, upon the death of the donor and before embalming, shall cause the part to be removed without unnecessary mutilation. After removal of the part of the body, custody of the remainder of the body vests in the person under obligation to dispose of the body.
157.06(8)(b)
(b) The time of death shall be determined by a physician who attends the donor at death or, if none, the physician who certifies the death. Neither the physician who attends the donor at death nor the physician who determines the time of death may participate in the procedures for removing or transplanting a part of the donor's body unless the document of gift designates a particular physician under
sub. (2) (d).
157.06(8)(c)
(c) If there has been an anatomical gift, a physician may remove any donated parts of the body, a technician may remove any donated tissue or bone and an enucleator may remove any donated eyes or parts of eyes, after determination of death by a physician. Any individual acting under the direction of a physician and any funeral director licensed under
ch. 445 may perform the functions of an enucleator under this section if he or she has completed a course in eye enucleation and holds a valid certification of competence from a medical college approved by the medical examining board under
s. 448.05 (2). A certificate of competence shall be valid for 3 years.
157.06(9)(a)(a) Each hospital in this state, after consultation with other hospitals and with the organ procurement organization in whose designated service area the hospital is located, shall establish agreements or affiliations for coordination of procurement and use of human bodies and parts.
157.06(9)(b)
(b) A vascularized organ that is obtained by an organ procurement organization for which the designated service area primarily includes area in this state shall be used within that designated service area unless
par. (c) applies.
157.06(9)(c)
(c) If no suitable potential recipient for the vascularized organ is specified on a waiting list of a hospital that is within the designated service area of the organ procurement organization specified in
par. (b), that organ procurement organization shall offer the vascularized organ for use by any other organ procurement organization for which the designated service area primarily includes area in this state.
157.06(9)(d)
(d) If no suitable potential recipient for the vascularized organ is specified on a waiting list of a hospital that is within the designated service area of the organ procurement organization to which the vascularized organ is offered under
par. (c), the organ procurement organization specified in
par. (b) shall do one of the following:
157.06(9)(d)1.
1. If the organ procurement organization has found that it is in the best interests of persons on waiting lists in this state in need of transplanted vascularized organs and will increase the number of people receiving transplants to enter into a reciprocal sharing agreement with an organ procurement organization for which the designated service area primarily is outside this state, and has entered into such an agreement, offer the vascularized organ for use by the organ procurement organization under the agreement.
157.06(9)(d)2.
2. Offer the vascularized organ for use by an entity that distributes vascularized organs on a regional or national basis under a contract with the federal department of health and human services or a subcontract with a contractor with the federal department of health and human services.
157.06(10)(a)(a) An anatomical gift authorizes any reasonable examination necessary to assure medical acceptability of the gift for the purposes intended.
157.06(10)(b)
(b) This section is subject to the laws of this state prescribing powers and duties of the coroner, medical examiner and other physicians licensed to perform autopsies, with respect to autopsies and the reporting of certain deaths under
ch. 979.
157.06(10)(c)
(c) A hospital, physician, coroner, medical examiner, enucleator or other person, who acts in accordance with this section or with the applicable anatomical gift law of another state or a foreign country or attempts in good faith to do so, is not liable for that act in a civil action or criminal proceeding.
157.06(10)(d)
(d) A person who makes an anatomical gift under
sub. (2) or
(3) and the person's estate are not liable for any injury or damage that may result from the making or the use of the anatomical gift.
157.06(10)(e)
(e) A person who fails to discharge the duties imposed by
sub. (5) (c) and
(d) is not liable for that act or inaction in a civil action or criminal proceeding.
157.06(11)
(11) Uniformity of interpretation. This section shall be so construed as to effectuate its general purpose to make uniform the law of those states which enact it.
157.06(11m)
(11m) Effect of prior document of gift. Notwithstanding the requirements of this section, a document of gift that was made under the requirements of s.
157.06, 1987 stats., is deemed to comply with the requirements of this section.
157.06(12)
(12) Short title. This section may be cited as the "uniform anatomical gift act".
157.06 Annotation
Chapters 69 and 157 are not alternatives to the requirement in s. 979.10 that anyone cremating a corpse must first obtain a cremation permit from the coroner. University medical schools or anyone else qualified to receive a corpse can receive a corpse for research without first obtaining a permit.
77 Atty. Gen. 218.
CEMETERIES
157.061
157.061
Definitions. Except as otherwise provided, in this subchapter:
157.061(1)
(1) "Burial" means entombment, inurnment or interment.
157.061(1m)
(1m) "Care fund" means one or more accounts or other investments established for the care of a cemetery.
157.061(2)
(2) "Cemetery authority" means any person who owns or operates a cemetery specified in
s. 157.065 (1).
157.061(2m)
(2m) "Cemetery lot" means a grave or 2 or more contiguous graves and, when used in reference to the sale, purchase or ownership of a cemetery lot, includes the right to bury human remains in that cemetery lot.
157.061(3)
(3) "Cemetery merchandise" means goods associated with the burial of human remains, including monuments, markers, nameplates, vases and urns, and any services that are associated with supplying or delivering those goods or with the burial of human remains and that may be lawfully provided by a cemetery authority. The term does not include caskets or outer burial containers.
157.061(4)
(4) "Dedicated" means platted for use exclusively as a cemetery and qualified for the exemption from general property taxes under
s. 70.11 (13).
157.061(5)
(5) "Department" means the department of regulation and licensing.
157.061(7)
(7) "Family member" means a spouse or an individual related by blood, marriage or adoption within the 3rd degree of kinship as computed under
s. 990.001 (16).
157.061(7m)
(7m) "Grave" means a piece of land that is used or intended to be used for an underground burial of human remains, other than a burial in an underground mausoleum space.
157.061(8)
(8) "Human remains" means the body of a deceased individual that is in any stage of decomposition or has been cremated.
157.061(9)
(9) "Mausoleum" means a building, structure or part of a building or structure that is used or intended to be used for the burial of human remains.
157.061(10)
(10) "Mausoleum space" means a niche, crypt or specific place in a mausoleum that contains or is intended to contain human remains.
157.061(11)
(11) "Municipality" means town, village or city.
157.061(11g)
(11g) "Outer burial container" means any container that is placed or intended to be placed into the burial excavation of a grave and into which a casket is placed or intended to be placed at the time of burial.
