The recommended and most effective way to document your decision to be an organ, tissue and eye donor is by enrolling in the New York State Donate Life Registry.
The New York State Donate Life Registry is a secure and confidential database maintained by New York State’s Department of Health. The registry is only accessed at or near the time of death by federally regulated organ procurement organizations such as the New York Organ Donor Network, and tissue and eye banks licensed by New York State.
When you choose to be a designated donor by enrolling in the Donate Life Registry, you give legal consent to the donation of your organs, eyes and tissues in the event of your death. Donor designation in the registry:
- Legally empowers you to save the lives of others.
- Grants you the right to self-determination and self-choice. It allows you to take control of your life and the end-of-life decision-making process. No one, including your next of kin, can reverse your decision to save lives when you add your name to the database.
How to enroll in the New York State Donate Life Registry:
Through the DMV: If you are at least 18 years of age, you can enroll in the registry by signing the donor box on your New York State driver license or non-driver identification (ID) card application or renewal form.
Enroll Today: While you can certainly enroll through the DMV, the renewal period for driver’s licenses has been extended in New York State to eight years. So if you are not going to renew your driver’s license within the next few days, we urge you to enroll right now. The lives of so many people depend upon you. Download the New York State Donate Life Donor Registry (PDF).
After you have enrolled in the registry, you have the option of notifying your next of kin.
At the time of your death, your family can derive a great deal of comfort knowing that you’re a designated donor. But it’s entirely up to you as to whether you tell your next of kin: either way, your enrollment in the donor registry is legally binding.
What if you enrolled in the New York State Organ and Tissue Donor Registry prior to July 23, 2008?
If you enrolled in the previous donor registry prior to July 23, 2008, your enrollment is not automatically included in the Donate Life consent registry. The registry that was launched in 2000 was a registry of intent, which means that the consent of your next of kin would be required in order to confirm your donation. In order to ensure that your decision to be an organ, eye and tissue donor is legally honored, you must enroll in the Donate Life Registry, which is a registry of legal consent.
|
