What This Statute Says
Section 36-853 creates the systemic linkage between hospitals and procurement organizations and ensures funeral arrangements continue smoothly after donation.
A. Each hospital in this state shall enter into one or more agreements or affiliations with procurement organizations for coordination of procurement and use of anatomical gifts.
B. If there has been an anatomical gift, the institution where the removal of any donated parts occurs shall notify the funeral director or the person acting in that capacity who first assumes custody of the body about the removal of the body parts.
When This Statute Comes Into Play
The hospital-procurement-organization agreement is the formal backbone of the donation system. It identifies who is responsible for evaluating donors, requesting consent, performing recovery, and handling logistics. The funeral-notice rule in subsection B ensures the funeral director knows what was removed and can plan the final disposition accordingly.
What This Means for Arizona Families
For families, two practical effects matter. First, donation is integrated into hospital operations. You do not have to coordinate it yourself. The hospital and procurement organization already have a written agreement that defines the process. Second, the funeral director is notified about the donation, which lets them prepare appropriately for open-casket viewings, cremation, or burial.
The notice to the funeral director also matters for closure. Families sometimes worry that donation will interfere with the funeral they planned. Our FAQ on burial and cremation wishes in Arizona covers the relationship between donation and disposition. In practice, the hospital, procurement organization, and funeral director coordinate so that the final disposition the family chose, documented in the decedent's healthcare directive or other written instructions, can still happen.