| 2004 New Year's Resolution Plea From the New York Organ Donor Network: Save Lives, By Signing the Organ Donor Registry
New York – As New Yorkers make their New Year's resolutions for 2004, the New York Organ Donor Network is asking everyone to make a difference by enrolling in the New York State Organ and Tissue Donor Registry, and informing their families of their decision to become donors. “As they reflect on the past 12 months and resolve to meet certain personal goals for the coming year, we hope all New Yorkers will show their intention to give the greatest gift of all, the gift of life,” says Elaine Berg , President and CEO of the Donor Network, the federally designated nonprofit organ procurement organization serving the Greater New York metropolitan area. “There are close to 7,000 people in the New York metro area on the organ transplant waiting list. One donor can save up to eight lives through organ donation and can improve the lives of up to 50 people through corneal, bone and other tissue transplants.”
The Donor Network makes it easy for New Yorkers to indicate their willingness to become organ and tissue donors: They can sign a driver's license; enroll in the New York State Organ and Tissue Donor Registry, a confidential database administered by the New York State Department of Health; or fill out a Health Care Proxy form, which indicates both an individual's wishes regarding extraordinary or “heroic” medical measures, and one's wishes regarding organ donation. Because the Donor Network requires family consent for organ and tissue donation, those who have decided to become donors should inform their next of kin about their wishes. For more information, contact Martin Woolf , 212-870-3960 or mwoolf@nyodn.org
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