Do you have a "D" on your driver's license? I'm sad to say, but I just had to check mine this morning, because although I thought I had signed up to be an organ donor back when I got my license years ago - I honestly couldn't remember. Up until this year, if you had selected this deisgnation on your license you probably assumed that your organs would and could be donated if certain critera were met. Most people think this is the case, I did as well. Even with this designation organ recovery agencies still required consent from family members - giving final decision to another party. And sadly, on many occasions organ donations were halted because of this policy. But thanks to some hard working folks at Donate Life Northwest, this is no longer the case! According to the new policies announced today, this burden has been removed from the family.Here's a quick Q&A on the changes:
Q: What changed in the organ, eye and tissue donation process?
A: In the past, the family of a potential organ, eye or tissue donor made the final decision for donation regardless of a donor designation on the driver’s license. Now that burden on the family has been removed because the license designation has the same application as an online or paper registration.
Q: Why has this change been made?
A: This change was made to be consistent with national donation practices. It is in line with what most Oregonians already believe — the “D” designation signifies their final consent to be organ, eye and tissue donors.
Q: How did recent legislation play into the change?
A: During Oregon’s 2007 Legislative Session, lawmakers passed the revised Uniform Anatomical Gift Act (UAGA), which strengthened the existing UAGA law by aligning it with national trends.
Q: When will this change take affect?
A: The revised UAGA went into affect January 2008. Organ, eye and tissue recovery agencies will be making the necessary changes over the next several months.
Q: How do I sign up to be a donor?
A: There is one donor registry with three ways an individual can register to be a donor: 1) online at www.donatelifenw.org, 2) through a DMV-issued driver’s license/instruction permit/ID card, 3) filling out a paper form obtained by calling 1-800-452-1369.
Q: What does the “D” on my license mean?
A: The driver’s license is global consent, i.e. consent for recovery of all organs,
eyes and tissues for transplant or medical research. Those who do not have a
donor designation on their license and wish to be a donor can register online at
www.donatelifenw.org or call 1-800-452-1369 to request a paper form.
Individuals signing up through these methods are added to the same donor
registry as DMV registrants and can also provide global consent, as defined
above. Online registration and paper forms also allow an individual to specify
what they wish to donate and for what purposes.
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