JOHN UNDERWOOD / STAFF PHOTO
By John Underwood/john@gulfcoastmedia.com
ROBERTSDALE, Alabama In July, a law will go into effect requiring medical examiners, through the appropriate law enforcement agency, to notify next of kin when keeping a person’s organs for purposes other than conducting a death investigation.
For Foley native and Robertsdale resident Donna Crooks Atkins, the law, recently signed by Gov. Kay Ivey, is a small victory in a well over decade-long fight sparked by her son Justin’s death at the age of 17.
“I never realized passing a law would be so amazing,” Atkins said. “I didn’t realize that I would have to fight every step of the way.”
Alabama Law passed to outlaw removing organs without notifying next of kin
BALDWIN COUNTY, Alabama (WALA) Governor Kay Ivey signed a bill outlawing medical examiners from removing an organ from a body without notifying next of kin.
It was a bill Donna Atkins has been fighting for for years. Her 17 year old son, Justin Crooks, died from an aneurysm behind his heart.
It wasn’t until a court hearing in a wrongful death lawsuit years later that Atkins learned something horrible.
Atkins said, “My attorney told me that he tried to prepare me that they kept his heart, the forensic department, and they were going to have it in trial. Yeah, that kind of freaked me out. This is like the invasion of the body snatchers you know. How can you do this?”