New York, NY - July 23, 2008: To boost the desperately needed number of organ, eye and tissue donors in New York, the state now has a new donor registry: The New York State Donate Life Registry. The legally binding registry that records an individual’s consent to be a donor was launched today.
The previous registry had indicated intent only, and required legal consent from next of kin, even if someone had registered to be a donor.
The Donate Life Registry of consent was approved by the New York State Legislature in 2006, following a massive grassroots effort to establish First-Person Consent (switching from “intent” to “consent.”) New York is the 44th state to establish a registry of consent.
With the introduction of the Donate Life Registry, next of kin will be informed of their loved one’s decision to donate, and they will be given information regarding the donation process. But family members will no longer be able to veto the decision of a designated donor.
Those in New York State’s original registry of intent will remain in that database. If they wish to register their legal consent to be a donor, they will need to re-enroll to be in the new Donate Life Registry.
New Yorkers can enroll in the Donate Life Registry when they apply for, or renew, their driver’s license or non-driver’s identification card.
They can also download an enrollment for at www.donatelifeny.org or sign a donor enrollment form provided by one of New York’s organ, eye and tissue procurement organizations.
Members of the public may request that a New York State Donate Life Registry enrollment brochure be mailed to them by calling the New York Organ Donor Network at 646-291-4458 or by sending an e-mail to communications@nyodn
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