Yesterday was a first for me. During a lecture, I briefly discussed the sad state of organ donation, and how altruism alone cannot satisfy the demand for organs. Afterward, I sat down to sign some books. A woman approached and, after getting her book signed, put something else in front of me for a signature: her driver’s license. She had decided that she wanted to sign up as an organ donor, and asked me to be one of her signing witnesses. Her name is Jackie Stanley. I have to say, it was very moving. The only problem is that someone with Jackie’s characteristics — caring, foresight, etc. — is probably less likely to get in a fatal car crash than someone with the opposite traits (I hope so, at least).
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How about getting people to start with blood or platelets. I donate platelets about twice a month and in addition to the cookies afterward, I get a good feeling knowing that chemotherapy and other patients benefit.
What do you think of the new law in California? Now instead of the old opt-in program at DMV, they have to ask you when you renew your license.
As a CA driver, I’ve always signed up for organ donation, which was marked on the license by a little pink stick-on dot — which quickly fell off and disappeared into the recesses of my wallet.
My last renewal, the pink dot was PRINTED onto the license!
I always check off the box that I’d like to be an organ donor, but should I ever almost die, I doubt anyone will harvest any of my working parts. You see, I have MS, and my corneas, kidneys, liver and heart ‘might’ have MS too. There’s no proof either way, but I’m not allowed to donate blood either, which is maddening. My organs have been working just fine for me all my life. I always check off “excellent” on those forms that ask you to rate your health. I can see, I have nothing like heart disease or high BP or cancer or ANYTHING, yet my entire mostly perfectly working body would be trashed because MS is in the picture. Grrrr.
Mazeltov! What a great story. The only viable solution I can come up with is to reverse the current presumptions. Instead of assuming that most people DON’T want to donate their organs and therefore putting the burden on those who do to opt in, we should presume that people DO want to donate and put the burden on those who don’t to opt out.
As for what the corresponding symbol should be for the driver’s licenses of those who opt out (since we wouldn’t need a symbol for anyone else), maybe a heart with the universally recognized circle and slash through it?
How about relaxing the rules of donations etc. Coming from the UK I am unable to donate blood in the US as I might have mad cow disease! In the UK I can’t donate as I am not resident. Despite making over 30 donations in the UK while I lived there it looks like my donating days are over.
They probably would not want to transplant my organs either, same reasons…
I believe some states are moving to an opt-out process, that is, you are signed up for organ donor status upon drivers license renewal, unless you choose to opt-out
I donate blood as often as allowed, and am signed up as an organ donor. I highly recommend it, it is something anyone can do.