What This Statute Says
Section 36-850 sets the universe of authorized recipients and purposes.
A. An anatomical gift may be made to the following persons named in the document of gift:
1. A hospital, accredited medical school, dental school, college, university, organ procurement organization or other appropriate person for research or education.
2. Subject to subsection B of this section, an individual designated by the person making the anatomical gift if the individual is the recipient of the part.
3. An eye bank or tissue bank.
B. If an anatomical gift to an individual under subsection A, paragraph 2 of this section cannot be transplanted into the individual, the part passes in accordance with subsection E of this section in the absence of an express, contrary indication by the person making the anatomical gift.
Subsection C addresses gifts that do not name a specific recipient, allowing the procurement organization to direct the part to the most appropriate use. Subsection D requires that organs be used for transplantation or therapy unless not suitable. Subsection E provides fallback rules for unsuitable parts.
When This Statute Comes Into Play
Most anatomical gifts in Arizona are unrestricted, meaning the donor names no specific recipient. The procurement organization matches the gift to the most appropriate use under nationally coordinated allocation rules.
Directed donations, where the donor names a specific intended recipient (often a family member needing a kidney or partial liver transplant), are less common but expressly allowed under paragraph 2.
What This Means for Arizona Families
You have two basic options when making a gift. The default is an unrestricted gift, where the procurement organization decides the best medical use. The alternative is a directed gift to a named individual, useful when a family member needs a specific transplant.
For most donors, the unrestricted gift is the right choice. It gives the gift the broadest medical reach and avoids the complication of a directed recipient who turns out to be incompatible. If you are interested in directed donation for a specific person, an Arizona transplant program can help structure the gift correctly. Our FAQ on making organ-donation wishes legally binding covers the documentation. A healthcare directive can specify whether the donation is unrestricted or directed.