What This Statute Says
The statute is a uniform-act provision that ties Arizona's interpretation to other adopting states.
In applying and construing this article, consideration must be given to the need to promote uniformity of the law with respect to its subject matter among states that enact it.
A.R.S. § 36-862When This Statute Comes Into Play
The provision matters whenever an Arizona court is asked to interpret an ambiguous term or procedural step. Courts look at how other adopting states have applied the same language, which keeps the law predictable across the country.
The uniformity goal is especially important for organ donation because organs move across state lines. A kidney recovered in Arizona may be transplanted in Texas. A heart recovered in Nevada may travel to Arizona. The interpretive consistency this statute promotes is what allows the national transplant system to function smoothly.
What This Means for Arizona Families
For families, the practical effect is invisible but valuable. The donation infrastructure operates on shared assumptions about what counts as a document of gift, who can consent, what immunity attaches, and how disputes are resolved. The uniformity rule signals to procurement organizations, transplant programs, and donor families that Arizona's interpretation will not diverge from the national mainstream.
If you donate in Arizona and the recipient is in another state, the donation works the same way. If you signed a donor card in another state and die in Arizona, the donation works the same way. Our FAQ on making organ-donation wishes legally binding covers the practical mechanics. The same consistency extends to your healthcare directive-incorporated gift, which travels with you and is honored wherever you are at the time of death.