N.Y. Public Health Law 4303 – Manner of executing anatomical gifts
§ 4303. Manner of executing anatomical gifts. 1. A gift of all or part of the body under this article may be made by will. The gift becomes effective upon the death of the testator without waiting for probate. If the will is not probated, or if it is declared invalid for testamentary purposes, the gift, to the extent that it has been acted upon in good faith, is nevertheless valid and effective.
Terms Used In N.Y. Public Health Law 4303
- document of gift: includes a statement on a driver's license, identification card, enrollment in a donor registry, or any other anatomical gift document valid pursuant to the laws of this or any other state or of any document of gift valid pursuant to the laws of any other country appearing on a list of countries maintained by the commissioner for such purpose and published on the department's website. See N.Y. Public Health Law 4300
- Donee: The recipient of a gift.
- Donee: means an individual or entity authorized to accept an anatomical gift pursuant to section forty-three hundred two of this article. See N.Y. Public Health Law 4300
- Donor: The person who makes a gift.
- Donor: means an individual whose body or part is the subject of an anatomical gift. See N.Y. Public Health Law 4300
- Gift: A voluntary transfer or conveyance of property without consideration, or for less than full and adequate consideration based on fair market value.
- gift: means a donation of a whole body or part of a human body, to take effect after the donor's death, for the purpose of transplantation, therapy, research or education. See N.Y. Public Health Law 4300
- part: includes "parts". See N.Y. Public Health Law 4300
- Person: means an individual, corporation, government or governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership or association, or any other legal entity. See N.Y. Public Health Law 4300
- Probate: Proving a will
- surgeon: means a physician or surgeon licensed or authorized to practice under the laws of any state. See N.Y. Public Health Law 4300
- Testator: A male person who leaves a will at death.
2. A gift of all or part of the body under this article may also be made by document other than a will. The gift becomes effective upon the death of the donor. The document, which may be a card designed to be carried on the person, must be signed by the donor. Delivery of the document of gift during the donor's lifetime is not necessary to make the gift valid.
3. The gift may be made either to a specified donee or without specifying a donee. If the latter, the gift may be accepted by and utilized under the direction of the attending physician upon or following death. If the gift is made to a specified donee who is not available at the time and place of death, the attending physician upon or following death, in the absence of any expressed indication that the donor desired otherwise, may accept the gift as donee. The physician who becomes a donee under this subdivision shall not participate in the procedures for removing or transplanting a part.
4. Subject to the prohibitions in subdivision two of section four thousand three hundred six the donor may designate in his will, card or other document of gift the surgeon or physician to carry out the appropriate procedures. In the absence of a designation, or if the designee is not available, the donee or other person authorized to accept the gift may employ or authorize any surgeon or physician for the purpose.