What is a document of gift?

A document of gift refers specifically to a donor card or a record that indicates an individual's wish to make an anatomical gift, such as donating organs or tissues upon their death. This formalized document expresses the person's intent to allow for their body parts to be used for transplant, research, or education, and serves as a critical tool in the process of organ donation.

In this context, it is important to differentiate it from other legal documents. A legal contract for the sale of burial plots pertains to agreements related to interment services and does not express intent for organ donation. Similarly, a will that designates beneficiaries deals primarily with the distribution of a person's assets after death, without addressing anatomical gifts. Medical records of the deceased contain health information and may not include personal wishes regarding organ donation, therefore, they do not serve the purpose of formalizing a gift.

Thus, the document of gift is dedicated exclusively to conveying a person's wishes regarding the donation of their body organs or tissues, making it a vital element in the framework of organ donation laws and practices.