Pennsylvania Statutes Title 20 Pa.C.S.A. Decedents, Estates and Fiduciaries § 8652. Intent of General Assembly

It is the intent of the General Assembly to provide guidance to organ procurement organizations, hospitals, health care professionals and the public about the donation of hands, facial tissue, limbs and other vascularized composite allografts when donated by an individual whose death is imminent or who has died in the hospital.  The General Assembly recognizes that a donation of a vascularized composite allograft from an individual whose death is imminent or who has died in the hospital, sometimes referred to as authorization for a vascularized composite allograft from a deceased donor, is a gift which must be given freely.  In order to be given freely, explicit and specific consent must be obtained from donors or the donors' families.  Obtaining explicit and specific consent is the only way to ensure transparency in the donation process and to preserve the public trust.  It is the intention of the General Assembly to design policies and procedures to ensure that the donation of hands, facial tissue, limbs and other vascularized composite allografts from an individual whose death is imminent or who has died in the hospital is only made with explicit and specific consent.