House approves bill to criminalize organ retention without permission
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama lawmakers on Thursday advanced a bill making it a crime for medical examiners to retain a deceased person’s organs without permission.
The legislation was introduced after several families said inmates’ bodies came back from autopsies with their hearts or other internal organs missing. The House of Representatives vote 89-1 for the proposal. The bill now moves to the Alabama Senate.
State law currently requires medical examiners to have permission to retain organs unless it is done for identification or determining a cause of death. The bill would make it a felony for a medical examiner to retain a deceased person’s organs without getting that permission from “the appropriate next of kin.”
The families of several men who died while incarcerated filed federal lawsuits alleging that their loved ones’ bodies were missing organs when they were returned after state autopsies.
“We’re just letting people know that we are paying attention, and the law needs to be followed,” Rep. Chris England, the bill’s sponsor, said.
England said the issue was not on his “bingo card” for the year, but it became necessary to introduce. The bill was approved with little debate.
Related articles
US overdose deaths dropped in 2023, the first time since 2018
NEW YORK (AP) — The number of U.S. fatal overdoses fell last year, according to Centers for Disease2024-05-21- GENEVA (AP) — The IOC has suspended former Olympic power broker Sheikh Ahmad of Kuwait for 15 years2024-05-21
Cobra Kai trailer features new footage from the sixth and final season that is split into a three
Cobra Kai will finally return for its sixth and final season this summer, with Netflix revealing the2024-05-21Kathryn Newton is ultra chic in head
Kathryn Newton and Freya Allan led the show-stopping glamour at the Kingdom of the Planet of the Ape2024-05-21Socialite Jasmine Hartin enjoys beach snuggle with electrician hunk
Socialite Jasmine Hartin has been seen enjoying a beach snuggle with her new mystery man.Ms Hartin w2024-05-21Reds hold on to defeat Crusaders in Super Rugby Pacific and Highlanders beat Moana Pasifika
Winger Tim Ryan scored two tries to lift his tally to five tries in his last two matches as the Quee2024-05-21
atest comment