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.
Scottish National Party ends 3
Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon placed on 10
Pogačar beats Van der Poel in a dominant win at Liège–Bastogne–Liège classic
Saints take Oregon State offensive tackle Taliese Fuaga 14th overall in the NFL Draft
Oklahoma bus driver crashes into a building after a passenger punches him, police say
Alesha Dixon storms off Britain's Got Talent stage following a contestant's 'offensive' act
Casey Mize throws 6 shutout innings for 1st win since 2021 as Tigers beat Twins 6
Belarus claims it prevented drone attacks from Lithuania. Vilnius rejects the allegations
Atletico misses chance to strengthen hold on 4th place after losing at Alaves in Spanish league
Roger Goodell envisions more overseas games, more streaming and more cities hosting the NFL draft
Sarah Jayne Dunn sets pulses racing in animal print bra as she joins chic Georgia May Foote at CO