fbpx

Gift of Life reaches agreement with Saginaw County’s new medical examiner

Gift of Life Michigan

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Gift of Life Michigan and the Saginaw County medical examiner have signed an agreement that will allow for both criminal investigations and organ, tissue and cornea donations to occur.

The deal mirrors Michigan statute, which requires organ, tissue and eye recovery organizations and medical examiners to work together so that investigations can take place while maintaining the option of donation for potential donors and their families. The contract was signed by Gift of Life CEO Richard Pietroski, Michigan Eye-Bank Executive Director Lisa Langley and Saginaw County Medical Examiner Russell Bush, M.D.

“I cannot praise Saginaw County and Dr. Bush highly enough for working out this agreement,” Pietroski said. “This is a complete ‘win-win.’ The agreement ensures that the medical examiner and donation representatives collaboratively take all steps necessary for organ donation and medical examination. Both are possible and, under Michigan statute, both are required.”

Gift of Life, the state’s federally designated organ and tissue recovery program, has similar agreements with most other counties across Michigan, as required by legislation known as Kyle Ray Horning’s Law.

The pacts require Gift of Life to assist a medical examiner with test results, visual images, biopsies or other information a medical examiner may request to determine the cause of death that the county would otherwise be unable to obtain as part of a standard forensic autopsy. In turn, county medical examiners and their designees must allow for the donation of organs, tissue and corneas when medically suitable. Gift of Life covers any additional medical examiner expenses related to the potential donation.

The Saginaw County agreement effectively ends a legal request Gift of Life had made for the county to collaborate with the organ recovery organization.

In Michigan, more than 3,400 patients need a life-saving organ transplant. Nationwide, over 123,000 people are on the transplant waiting list.

All potential organ donations take place within a hospital, while people who die outside of a hospital would not become a donor for cornea and tissue transplants unless a medical examiner office reports the death to Gift of Life or the Michigan Eye-Bank. The new agreement is also a win for the more than 3.8 million Michigan adults who have signed up in the Michigan Donor Registry, because it will allow their final wishes to be fulfilled.

#####

EDITOR’S NOTES:

  • Being a donor is now the social norm in Michigan, with more than 50% of adults being registered. Anyone can join the Michigan Organ Donor Registry, regardless of their age or health history, by going to www.giftoflifemichigan.org or calling (800) 482-4881.
Read More Posts

More than 100 staff at Munson Medical Center gathered to celebrate their upcoming Hospital of the Year Award - many of them came in on their day off to join the celebration.

Munson Medical Center Named Hospital of the Year by Gift of Life Michigan

Munson’s John Stanifer, MD and ICU Manager, Eric Jean also to be recognized. Gift of…

Read More
children holding hands

Can a Living Person Donate a Liver?

The liver is an important organ. It filters toxins out of your blood. You can’t…

Read More

Can You Donate Your Placenta?

The placenta is a one-of-a-kind organ that plays a significant role in pregnancy. It assists…

Read More
A happy family

What Tissue can be Donated?

There are several tissues that one can donate to save lives. This includes cornea, tendons,…

Read More
Dr. Bedi, Rachel Kuntzsch and Sarah Scantamburlo are new Gift of Life Governing Board members

Gift of Life Michigan announces new board members

New board members will bring fresh perspectives and ideas to the table Gift of Life…

Read More
2023 was a record year for Gift of Life Michigan with 578 organ donors and 1,858 tissue donors

Gift of Life Michigan smashes record for organ donors in 2023

More than 213,000 people join Donor Registry Gift of Life Michigan helped a record 578…

Read More
Scroll to Top