Your Health

Organ Donation: Giving The Gift Of Life

Posted: 1/7/2012

Many states allow you to declare your donation status on your driver’s license. Check with your state’s department of motor vehicles.

(NAPSI)—It’s not often that a gift can actually give someone a second chance at life. However, organ, eye and tissue donations do just that.

Currently, more than 111,000 people in the United States are on the waiting list to receive a life-saving organ. Last year, organ donors made more than 28,000 transplants possible. And the need for organ donors grows each day.

Here’s how you can register to become a donor:

• Enroll with Your State Registry. Signing up to be a donor is a state-specific process, and laws related to donation vary. You can learn more about the donation process in your state and sign up on your state’s registry by visiting www.organdonor.gov.

• Indicate Your Consent on Your Driver’s License. Most states allow you to declare your organ donation status on your driver’s license. The next time you renew your license, you may be able to register as an organ donor on the spot. Check with your state’s department of motor vehicles to see if this is an option in your state. In some states, you can also sign up online.

• Notify Your Family and Friends. If you want to make the commitment to give the “gift of life,” it is helpful to tell your family and friends. Notify the people close to you about your decision to become an organ, eye and tissue donor so they can support and verify your wishes if needed.

• Declare Your Intent on Documents. To add further verification to your decision to become an organ, eye and tissue donor, include donation in advance directives, such as your will and living will.

To learn more, visit www.organdonor.gov.