Posted on 07/11/2006 9:08:06 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
The California Department of Motor Vehicles has launched a new system to sign up organ and tissue donors, hoping to significantly increase the state's pool of donations.
Those applying for or renewing a driver's license or ID card can now register by checking "yes" at the organ and tissue donor option, officials said Monday. The decision has legal standing and is automatically transmitted to the state's donor registry, taking the decision about whether to donate out of a family's hands.
"Now, for the first time, each and every one of the 23 million licensed California drivers will have an effective, legally binding way to donate life," said Tracy Bryan, president of Donate Life California, the registry's nonprofit administrator.
Bryan said currently 1 percent of licensed drivers in California are registered donors, whereas in other states that have partnered with their DMVs, that figure is as high as 70 percent.
The California DMV had previously asked potential donors to affix a pink sticker to their driver's license and fill out a registration card.
But the sticker, meant to indicate the person's wishes, sometimes fell off and did not have legal standing. And the registration card was often incomplete or could not be found, jeopardizing a donation.
That meant grieving families were often asked to make a difficult decision they might not have considered.
People signing up under the new system can change their minds or place limitations on what they wish to donate after their information has been sent to the registry.
The new system, which quietly launched July 1, has already proved effective. In its first week, 25,000 donors signed up, a 700 percent increase in the number who signed up weekly directly through the registry's web site, Bryan said.
State DMV Director George Valverde said the number of new registrants is expected to increase as the promotional campaign continues.
The pink donor sticker will be retained to indicate an individual's preferences. But it will be placed under the laminate of licenses and cards to prevent it from falling off.
Easier than voting in California? Can I donate an organ without showing ID?
We have had the option to be donors by checking the box here in California for a long time. Is this press release to say that we can do "on-line" what we have done for years when we go in to get our photo for the new license?
Must be a slow press day.
Just don't make it so easy that they start taking your organs before you are done with them.
That is the next step.
The default will be you are a donor and you have to then fill out a form to opt out of the program.
lol.. slow news day? uhhh, It's early. ;-)
also, I have never filed for a renewal online before so your question about that option, I wasn't sure of.
It probably is or should be an option.
All your organs are belong to us!
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