Registry information is kept strictly confidential and can only be accessed by 1) Department of Heath employees when required for the performance of their official duties, 2) federally regulated organ procurement organizations such as the New York Organ Donor Network, 3) New York State licensed tissue and eye banks and 4) other entities formally approved by the Commissioner of Health. Such access can only be for the purpose of identifying potential organ, tissue and eye (cornea) donors at or near the time of death.

Yes. You must be at least 18 years of age to register. However, someone who is younger than the required age may instruct parents or a legal guardian that he or she would want to become an organ, tissue and eye donor.

By enrolling in the New York State Donate Life Registry, you become a designated donor. It means that 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. Your legally binding decision may not be overturned by any other person. It ensures that your decision will be shared with your next-of-kin or other authorized person; the donation process will be explained to them in great detail.

The Life Pass It on Registry was established in 1999 as a registry of intent: It recorded someone’s intention to be an organ, tissue and eye donor. Intent registries require permission from next-of-kin or other authorized parson for donation to proceed in the event of the potential donor’s death. In 2006, a new law created the New York State Donate Life Registry: a registry that records an individual’s own legal consent to organ, tissue and eye donation upon their death. To ensure that your decision to be an organ, tissue and eye donor is honored, you must enroll in the Donate Life Registry.

To find out about your New York State Donate Life Registry status, to make changes to your enrollment information or to remove your name from the registry, you can do so in any of the following ways:

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.

Call the toll free Message Center at 1-866-693-6667: Once you have left a message, someone at the Department of Health will get back to you within a reasonable time frame.

E-mail the Department of Health: donnorreg@health.state.ny.us.