Donate Life FAQ
- Why are organ, tissue and eye donations needed?
- Who can become a donor?
- How do I become an organ, tissue and eye donor?
- What happens when I enroll in the Donate Life Registry?
- I am currently enrolled in the New York State Life Pass it On Registry – should I enroll in the Donate Life Registry? What is the difference?
- Is there any age restriction on joining the registry?
- How can I make changes to my information or withdraw from the Donate Life Registry?
- If I enroll in the Donate Life Registry, will medical care be compromised?
- What will happen to my donated organs and tissues?
- Is there any cost to my estate or family for donating my organs, tissues and eyes?
- Can there still be a funeral service with open-casket viewing?
- What does my religion say about organ and tissue donation?
Q: Why are organ, tissue and eye donations needed?
A: There is a severe shortage of organs for life-saving transplants. In addition to those New Yorkers awaiting organ transplants, thousands more benefit from tissue donation such as skin for burn victims or eye donations for sight-restoring cornea transplants. Without these surgeries, they will die or remain disabled. Transplants give people a chance to resume full, productive lives.
Q: Who can become a donor?
A: Anyone can decide to become a donor. A person’s medical history or age does not automatically exclude him or her from being a donor. Do not rule yourself out. Medical professionals will determine your suitability for donation at the time of your death.
Q: How do I become an organ, tissue and eye donor?
A: Enroll in the New York State Donate Life Registry by signing the donor box on your driver license or non-driver identification (ID) card application or renewal form. You can also enroll through the New York State Health Department’s web site, www.nyhealth.gov
Q: What happens when I enroll in the Donate Life Registry?
A: By enrolling in the Donate Life Registry, you are giving legal consent for the recovery of your organs, tissues and eyes for the purposes of transplantation and research at the time of your death. Registry information is kept strictly confidential and can only be accessed by a) Department of Heath employees when required for the performance of their official duties, b) federally regulated organ procurement organizations, c) New York State licensed tissue and eye banks and d) other entities formally approved by the Commissioner. Such access can only be for the purpose of identifying potential organ and tissue donors at or near the time of death.
Q: I am currently enrolled in the New York State Life Pass it On Registry – should I enroll in the Donate Life Registry? What is the difference?
A: The Life Pass It on Registry was established in 1999 and records someone’s intention to be an organ and tissue donor. This is called an intent registry. Intent registries require next of kin’s permission for donation to proceed in the event of the prospective donor’s death.
In 2006, a new law created the Donate Life Registry: a registry that records an individual’s own legal consent to organ, tissue and eye donation upon their death. If you are registered in this new registry, your family will be informed of your decision and given information regarding the donation process, but their permission is not required to proceed with donation.
If you are enrolled in the Life Pass it On intent registry, your enrollment is not automatically included in the Donate Life consent registry. To ensure that your decision to be an organ, tissue and eye donor is honored, you must enroll in the Donate Life Registry.
Q: Is there any age restriction on joining the registry?
A: Yes. You must be at least 18 years of age to register.
Q: How can I make changes to my information or withdraw from the Donate Life Registry?
A: If you need to make changes to your enrollment information or you decide you do not want to become an organ, tissue and eye donor and you want your name removed from the Donate Life Registry, write to: The New York State Donate Life Registry, New York State Department of Health, 433 River Street, Hedley Park Place, Suite 303, 6th Floor, Troy, New York 12180.
Q: If I enroll in the Donate Life Registry, will medical care be compromised?
A: No. Donation is only considered after all efforts to save the patient have failed and the patient has died. Saving the patient’s life is the health care provider’s first priority.
Q: What will happen to my donated organs and tissues?
A: When someone dies, the local organ procurement organization, tissue bank or eye bank matches those donor’s organs, tissues and eyes, as specified in the registry, with people waiting for transplants. Patients who receive your organs will be identified based upon many factors, including blood type, severity of illness and other medical criteria. Factors, such as race, gender, age and income are not considered when determining who receives a transplant.
Q: Is there any cost to my estate or family for donating my organs, tissues and eyes?
A: No. There are no costs to your estate or family for you to be a donor.
Q: Can there still be a funeral service with open-casket viewing?
A: Donation generally does not affect the funeral arrangements or viewing.
Q: What does my religion say about organ and tissue donation?
A: Most religions approve of organ, tissue and eye donation and transplantation, and even encourage it. They believe it is the most significant gift one human being can give to another. If you have questions or concerns, you should discuss them with your religious or spiritual leader.