HB 4125, HB 4126 and HB 4479 signed into Law on July 21st!
These three bills were signed into law by Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm on July 21, 2003.

HB 4125 - Sponsored by Representative Michael Murphy
This bill permits a person to authorize a designated patient advocate to
make an anatomical gift on the person's behalf, upon the patient's death.

HB 4126 - Sponsored by Representative Michael Murphy
This bill gives a designated patient advocate priority over others (like a spouse, parent, adult child, etc.) authorized to make an anatomical gift upon the patient's death.

HB 4479 - Sponsored by Representative John Gleason
Also known as First Person Consent legislation. This bill specifies that an anatomical gift made by a will or a document of gift (e.g. donor registry card) would not be revocable after the death of the donor, making the donor's wishes paramount. This bill adds state ID cards and driver
licenses to the list of acceptable documents authorizing an anatomical gift.

Additionally, HB 4479 deletes the requirement on the hospital's organ donor log sheet for the name and signature of the person making a donation
request.

What is a patient advocate?
Anyone can designate a patient advocate through a durable power of attorney for health care. In doing so, the patient advocate is responsible for making decisions of behalf of the designated patient when they are unable
to participate in medical treatment decisions for themselves. The patient advocate must follow the wishes of the patient and has the authority to consent to or refuse treatment, to arrange medical services, has access to medical records and may consent to organ and tissue donation for transplantation and/or research. If a patient advocate cannot determine the choice the patient would want, he/she shall choose based on what they
believe to be in the best interest of the patient.

How does this First Person Consent legislation increase the importance of the Donor Registry?
Upon every hospital death, Gift of Life Michigan is notified. Having the donor registry card on file ensures that your decision to become a donor is carried out. The registry is a confidential, 24 hour a day, computerized database that documents each participant's desire to become an organ and tissue donor. With a signed donor registry card (or driver license or any anatomical gift card), when a registered donor dies their family will be notified of their loved one's expressed wish to become a donor and notified of the next steps which will be followed to proceed with the donation process.