Final Text
CHAPTER 475
REGULATIONS IMPLEMENTING THE VIRGINIA ORGAN AND TISSUE DONOR REGISTRY
Part I
Definitions and General Information
12VAC5-475-10. Definitions.
The following words and terms when used in this chapter shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Agent" means an adult appointed by the declarant
under an advance directive, executed or made in accordance with the provisions
of § 54.1-2983 of the Code of Virginia, to make health care decisions for him,
including decisions relating to visitation, provided the advance directive
makes express provisions for visitation and subject to physician orders and
policies of the institution to which the declarant is admitted. The declarant
may also appoint an adult to make, after the declarant's death, an anatomical
gift of all or any part of his body pursuant to Article 2 (§ 32.1-289 et seq.)
of Chapter 8 of Title 32.1 of the Code of Virginia.
"Anatomical gift" or "organ donation"
means a donation of organs, tissues, or eyes or all or any part of a human
body to take effect upon or after death all or part of a human body to
take effect after the donor's death for the purpose of transplantation,
therapy, research, or education.
"Board" means the State Board of Health.
"Commissioner" means the State Health
Commissioner or his duly designated officer or agent.
"Decedent" means a deceased individual and
includes a stillborn infant or fetus whose body or part is or may be the
source of an anatomical gift. The term includes a stillborn infant and, subject
to restrictions imposed by law other than the restrictions imposed by the
Revised Uniform Anatomical Gift Act (§ 32.1-291.1 et seq. of the Code of
Virginia), a fetus.
"Department" means the State Virginia
Department of Health.
"Designee" means a person designated by an organ procurement organization, eye bank, or tissue bank to identify and determine the suitability of a potential donor.
"Document of gift" means a donor card, a
statement attached to or imprinted on a motor vehicle driver's or chauffeur's
license or the record of the individual's motor vehicle driver's or chauffeur's
license, a will, an advance directive, or other writing used to make an organ
donation or an anatomical gift or other record used to make an
anatomical gift. The term includes a statement or symbol made pursuant to
§ 46.2-342 G of the Code of Virginia on a driver's license, an
identification card, or a donor registry. "Document of gift"
also includes a record of the donor's gift stored in a registry.
"DonateLifeVirginia.org" means the official Virginia website that provides information on organ and tissue donation and provides a registration form for registrants to make an anatomical gift in accordance with the Revised Uniform Anatomical Gift Act (§ 32.1-291.1 et seq. of the Code of Virginia).
"Donor" means an individual who makes a donation
of organs, tissues, or eyes or an anatomical gift of all of his body whose
body or part is the subject of an anatomical gift.
"Disseminate" means to release, transfer, or
otherwise communicate information orally, in writing, or by electronic means.
"Eye bank" means an agency a person that
is licensed, accredited, or regulated under federal or state law to engage in
the recovery, screening, testing, processing, storage, or distribution of human
eyes or portions of human eyes and that is a member of the Virginia Transplant
Council, accredited by the Eye Bank Association of America or the
American Association of Tissue Banks and operating in the Commonwealth of
Virginia.
"Guardian" means a person appointed by the a
court who is responsible for the personal affairs of an incapacitated
person, including responsibility for making decisions regarding the person's
support, care, health, safety, habilitation, education, and therapeutic
treatment, and, if not inconsistent with an order of commitment, residence.
Where the context plainly indicates, the term includes a "limited
guardian" or a "temporary guardian." The term includes a local
or regional program designated by the Department for the Aging as a public
guardian pursuant to Article 2 (§ 2.2-711 et seq.) of Chapter 7 of Title 2.2 of
the Code of Virginia to make decisions regarding the support, care,
education, health, or welfare of an individual. The term does not include a
guardian ad litem, except when the guardian ad litem is authorized by a court
to consent to donation.
"Informed consent" means the knowing and
voluntary agreement, obtained without undue influence or any use of force,
fraud, deceit, duress, or other form of constraint or coercion, of a person who
is capable of exercising free power of choice.
"Organ procurement organization" means an agency
certified by the United States Health Care Financing Administration a
person designated by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services as an organ procurement organization that is also a member of
the Virginia Transplant Council.
"Part" means an organ, tissue, eye, bone, artery,
blood, fluid or other portion of a human body an eye, or tissue of a
human being. The term does not include the whole body.
"Personal information" means all information that
describes, locates or indexes anything about an individual, as defined in §
2.2-3801 of the Code of Virginia.
"Procurement" means the recovery of any donated part
by a licensed physician licensed, accredited, or approved under the
laws of any state or a technician who is qualified in accordance with
§ 32.1-291.14 of the Code of Virginia.
"Registry" means the Organ and Tissue Virginia
Donor Registry for the Commonwealth, which shall be administered by
the Department of Health created, compiled, operated, maintained, and
modified as necessary by the Virginia Transplant Council in accordance with
§ 32.1-292.2 of the Code of Virginia. The registry shall maintain and
update, as needed, the pertinent information on all Virginians who have
indicated a willingness to donate.
"Tissue bank" means an agency a person
that is licensed, accredited, or regulated under federal or state law to engage
in the recovery, screening, testing, processing, storage, or distribution of
tissue, and that is a member of the Virginia Transplant Council, accredited
by the American Association of Tissue Banks, and operating in the
Commonwealth of Virginia.
"UNOS" means the United Network for Organ
Sharing.
"VTC" means the Virginia Transplant Council, a
program within the Virginia Department of Health that exists to promote and
coordinate educational and information activities as related to the organ,
tissue, and eye donation process and transplantation in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
12VAC5-475-20. Purpose. (Repealed.)
These regulations are designed to accomplish the tasks
listed in § 32.1-292.2 C 1 and 2 of the Code of Virginia by establishing
procedures for the administration of the registry.
12VAC5-475-30. Administration.
A. The board has the responsibility for promulgating
regulations, in consultation with the VTC, pertaining to the administration of
the organ and tissue donor registry.
B. The commissioner is the executive officer for the State
Board of Health with the authority of the board when it is not in session,
subject to the rules and regulations of and review by the board.
C. A. The VTC, as delegated authorized
by the board pursuant to § 32.1-292.2 D 2 of the Code of Virginia, is
responsible for analyzing shall analyze registry data under research
protocols directed toward determination and identification of means to promote
and increase organ, eye, and tissue donation within the Commonwealth.
D. Confidentiality. B. All persons responsible
for the administration of the organ and tissue donor registry Virginia
Donor Registry shall ensure that the registry and all information therein
shall be confidential in accordance with §§ 32.1-127.1:03 and
32.1-292.2 B of the Code of Virginia and other applicable state
and federal law.
C. The VTC shall maintain and report annually the following information to the board: (i) the number of unique individuals registered in the registry; (ii) the number of recovered organ donors; (iii) the number or recovered organ donors who were identified through the registry; (iv) the number of recovered tissue donors; (v) the number of recovered tissue donors who were identified through the registry; (vi) the number of recovered eye/cornea donors; and (vii) the number of recovered eye/cornea donors identified through the registry. This report shall be made on or before September 30 of each year and contain information pertaining to the previous fiscal year.
12VAC5-475-40. Access. (Repealed.)
The registry and all information therein shall be
accessible 24 hours a day and only to the department and the specific designees
of accredited organ procurement organizations, eye banks and tissue banks operating
in or serving Virginia and which are members of the VTC, for the purpose of
identifying a potential donor according to the provisions of §§ 32.1-127.1 and
32.1-292.2, and subsection F of § 46.2-342.
The name of such designees shall be provided to the VTC.
All other persons or entities shall be prohibited from having access to the
registry. If at any time the designee is unable to carry out his
responsibilities with respect to the registry, a replacement shall be selected
and the VTC shall be notified of such replacement.
All accredited organ procurement organizations, eye banks,
and tissue banks with authorized access to the registry shall be required to
report annually to the VTC the following outcome data: (i) the number of times
the registry is accessed; (ii) the number of times access to the registry
results in an unsuccessful search (i.e., the individual is not a member of the
registry); (iii) the number of times an organ, tissue or eye procurement
proceeds solely from accessing the registry; (iv) the number of times the next
of kin's consent is obtained in addition to a successful search of the
registry; (v) the number of times donation of organs, tissue, or eyes occurred
as a result of alternative donation designation documentation; and (vi) the
number of times the next of kin's consent is obtained without accessing the
registry.
Part II
Registry Information
12VAC5-475-50. Registry membership.
Those persons 18 years and older who have indicated a
willingness to donate in accordance with § 32.1-290 of the Code of Virginia and
have completed the required registration form (VTC-1) shall be recorded in the
registry. Persons under the age of 18 may enter the registry upon completion of
the registration form and only with the written consent of his parent or legal
guardian. No person may enter another person in the registry. The
registry shall record anatomical gifts made in accordance with the Revised
Uniform Anatomical Gift Act (§ 32.1-291.1 et seq. of the Code of Virginia).
Designees may assist individuals to complete a signed donor registration form.
Those persons who have indicated a willingness to donate
designated an anatomical gift on their driver's license or personal
identification card as authorized by the Department of Motor Vehicles will be
automatically entered into the registry. Through inter-agency interagency
agreement, the Department of Motor Vehicles will assist the department by
electronically providing this information to the registry on a daily regular
basis as agreed upon by the Department of Motor Vehicles and the VTC. The
VTC shall contact any such self-identified persons by United States mail
regarding notification of membership to the registry and request the completion
of the registration form (VTC-1). Persons who make an anatomical gift by
completing the donor registration form available on the DonateLifeVirginia.org
website will also be automatically entered into the registry.
12VAC5-475-60. Data to be recorded.
The following information shall be recorded in the registry:
the donor's full name, address (including county or independent city of
residence with zip code), telephone number, date of birth, age, sex, race,
and driver's license number or unique identification number. If the donor is
under the age of 18, the name, telephone number, address, and unique
identification number of the donor's parent or legal guardian shall be
recorded.
Information shall be recorded by completing the Virginia
Organ and Tissue Donor Registry Form (VTC-1).
12VAC5-475-70. Removal from the registry.
A. A person who has joined the registry may have his
name removed amend his anatomical gift or revoke the anatomical gift
by filing an appropriate form (VTC-0) with the VTC or in
accordance with subsections E and F of § 32.1-290 the Revised Uniform
Anatomical Gift Act (§ 32.1-291.1 et seq. of the Code of Virginia) or
subsection G I of § 46.2-342 of the Code of Virginia.
B. Persons who revoke an anatomical gift shall be automatically removed from the registry by the VTC.
C. Persons can revoke an anatomical gift by completing any of the following actions:
1. Notifying the VTC in writing using an appropriate form provided by the VTC, which shall result in being removed from the registry upon receipt of notification by the VTC;
2. Completing the form available on the DonateLifeVirginia.org website, which shall result in immediate removal from the registry by the VTC; or
3. Not renewing an anatomical gift when renewing or replacing a driver's license or personal identification card at the Department of Motor Vehicles, which will result in being removed from the registry within 24 hours of receipt of notification to the VTC from the Department of Motor Vehicles.
D. The name of a person entered in the registry who has
died shall be removed from the registry within 90 days of notification of death
by the Virginia Office Division of Vital Records and Health
Statistics.
Part III
Access, Use, and Dissemination of Registry Information
12VAC5-475-75. Access.
A. Except as otherwise provided by law, no person shall have access to the registry except as provided in this section.
B. Designees shall have access to the registry for the purpose of creating, amending, or revoking the registrant's anatomical gift.
C. The registry and all information therein shall be accessible 24 hours a day and only to specific designees of organ procurement organizations, eye banks, and tissue banks for the purpose of identifying a potential donor according to the provisions of §§ 32.1-127 and 32.1-292.2 of the Code of Virginia. The name of such designees shall be provided to the VTC. If at any time the designee is unable to carry out his responsibilities with respect to the registry, a replacement shall be selected and the VTC shall be notified of such replacement.
D. Persons who require access to the registry for operational and maintenance purposes shall have access to the registry upon receipt from VTC of appropriate access privileges.
E. The department shall be provided access to the registry for the purpose of exercising responsibility for oversight of VTC activities. The department shall not have access to personal information of registrants unless such access is required for the department's oversight responsibilities.
Part III
Use and Dissemination of Registry Information
12VAC5-475-80. Use.
The designees of accredited organ procurement
organizations, eye banks, and tissue banks and all other persons with
authorized access to the registry shall have an organizational or individual
pass code, or both, assigned by the VTC to gain entry to the registry via the VTC
website.
Once entry to the registry has been established, the designees
shall enter the decedent's full name, the decedent's date of birth, the
decedent's driver's license number, the decedent's unique
identification number, or any combination thereof, to verify whether the
decedent made a donor designation in the registry. Once the decedent's donor
designation has been verified, the designees shall include the intent to
donate document of gift as part of the donor record maintained by
the accredited organ procurement organization, eye bank, and
tissue bank.
If the decedent is not in the registry, the designees shall
exit the registry. Designees shall not perform a search of the registry on
any other person other than the decedent.
12VAC5-475-90. Dissemination.
The accredited organ procurement organizations, eye
banks, and tissue banks with authorized access to the registry may
disclose the contents of the decedent's documented donation
designation document of gift to the decedent's next of kin, the
nearest available relative, a member of the decedent's household, an individual
with an affinity relationship, and the primary treating physician
decedent's physicians, and any other person or entity specified in
§§ 32.1-291.9 and 32.1-291.11 of the Code of Virginia, in order to
demonstrate that the decedent's wish to donate decedent made
an anatomical gift in accordance with §§ 32.1-290 the Revised
Uniform Anatomical Gift Act (§ 32.1-291.1 et seq. of the Code of Virginia),
§ 46.2-342 of the Code of Virginia, 54.1-2984, and
54.1-2986 or an advance directive executed pursuant to the Health Care
Decisions Act (§ 54.1-2981 et seq. of the Code of Virginia).
The VTC may disclose to the DMV the donor designation on
those persons who are recorded in the registry in order that the driver's
record accurately reflect those persons' wishes to donate pursuant to
subsections E and F of § 46.2-342 of the Code of Virginia.
FORMS (12VAC5-475)
Virginia Organ and Tissue Donor Registry Removal Form,
VTC-0 (eff. 7/00).
Virginia Organ and Tissue Donor Registry Form, VTC-1 (eff.
7/00).
[ Registry Removal Form, Donate Life Virginia
(undated)
Registry Removal Form, DonateLifeVirginia.org (eff. 12/13) ]