LANSING – A bipartisan plan spearheaded by State Representative Kathy Angerer (D-Dundee) that aims to improve the organ donation process and strengthen donor rights by overhauling the state's organ and tissue donation law is headed to the Governor for her signature.
"More than 3,200 Michigan residents are currently waiting on the transplant list," said Angerer, who is chair of the House Health Policy Committee. "This plan marks a significant step in the effort to improve our organ and tissue donation law. What we've done is take down taking down unnecessary barriers while establishing the safeguards necessary to protect would-be donors and their loved ones."
The plan passed the State House and Senate unanimously with a vote of 106-0 and 38-0, respectively. Michigan will now be one of 21 states that have passed the nationwide Uniform Gift Act of 2006, a move that will harmonize state and federal laws to ensure that no state-line barriers affect the efficiency of organ donation.
Under the plan, Michigan's entire organ donation and procurement process will receive an overhaul. The plan makes it easier for residents to give their consent to donate organs or tissues, and standardizes organ-donation documentation. It also strengthens and clarifies donor rights and a resident's rights under a durable power of attorney for healthcare.
In addition, the plan will standardize donor registries to allow for better access by procurement organizations and eliminate unnecessary layers of consent to ensure that organ procurement is not delayed when a family or donor has given consent.
It also will give people who don't wish to donate the means to make their decision known, and prevents survivors from overriding the decision.
The bipartisan plan will now go to the Governor to be signed into law.
"By passing this plan, we are strengthening the donor process in Michigan in the hopes of increasing donations and saving lives," Angerer said. "This plan is the right thing to do for those who want to give the gift of life."