Section 24-6B-9 - Who may make anatomical gift of decedent's body or part. - New Mexico Statutes

24-6B-9. Who may make anatomical gift of decedent's body or part.

A.     Subject to the provisions of Subsections B and C of this section and unless barred by Section 7 [24-6B-7 NMSA 1978] or 8 [24-6B-8 NMSA 1978] of the Jonathan Spradling Revised Uniform Anatomical Gift Act, an anatomical gift of a decedent's body or part for purpose of transplantation, therapy, research or education may be made by any member of the following classes of persons who is reasonably available, in the order of priority listed:

(1)     an agent of the decedent at the time of death who could have made an anatomical gift pursuant to Subsection B of Section 4 [24-6B-4 NMSA 1978] of the Jonathan Spradling Revised Uniform Anatomical Gift Act immediately before the decedent's death;

(2)     the spouse of the decedent unless legally separated or unless there is a pending action for annulment, divorce, dissolution of marriage or separation;

(3)     adult children of the decedent;

(4)     parents of the decedent;

(5)     adult siblings of the decedent;

(6)     adult grandchildren of the decedent;

(7)     grandparents of the decedent;

(8)     an adult who exhibited special care and concern for the decedent;

(9)     the persons who were acting as the guardians of the person of the decedent at the time of death; and

(10)     any other person having the authority to dispose of the decedent's body.

B.     If there is more than one member of a class listed in Paragraphs (1), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7) and (9) of Subsection A of this section entitled to make an anatomical gift, an anatomical gift may be made by a member of the class unless that member or a person to which the gift may pass pursuant to Section 11 [24-6B-11 NMSA 1978] of the Jonathan Spradling Revised Uniform Anatomical Gift Act knows of an objection by another member of the class.  If an objection is known, the gift may be made only by a majority of the members of the class who are reasonably available.

C.     A person may not make an anatomical gift if, at the time of the decedent's death, a person in a prior class pursuant to Subsection A of this section is reasonably available to make or to object to the making of an anatomical gift.