LANSING – Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today signed into law a bipartisan plan spearheaded by State Representative Kathy Angerer (D-Dundee) that will improve the organ donation process and strengthen donor rights in Michigan.
"This is an important day for Michigan because we are making it easier to give the gift of life," Angerer said. "More than 3,200 residents of our state are currently waiting on the transplant list – and now, more than ever, we must take down unnecessary barriers to organ donation while establishing the safeguards necessary to protect would-be donors and their loved ones."
The plan passed the State House and Senate unanimously. 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.
The new law overhauls Michigan's entire organ donation and procurement process. 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. This will 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 prevent survivors from overriding the decision.
"Working in a bipartisan fashion, what we have done is overhaul the state's organ and tissue donation process," Angerer said. "We are strengthening the donor process in Michigan with the goal of increasing donations and saving lives."