Everyone has the right to sign up to donate their organs, eyes and tissues at the time of their death. Your age or health does not prevent you from registering. Most health conditions do not prevent donation and age is not a factor – the oldest organ donor was 98! Medical advances now allow people with chronic conditions, cancer, HIV and hepatitis to donate. Don’t rule yourself out – register today!

Watch these videos:
Am I too old to donate?
Am I healthy enough to be a donor?

One person can save and heal more than 75 lives through organ, eye and tissue donation!

All major religions in the United States support organ, eye and tissue donation and consider it a generous act of caring. Check out this list of the major religions practiced in the United States and their position on donation.

Watch this video: Which religions support organ, eye and tissue donation?

When you register as a donor you are making a legal decision to donate your organs, eyes and tissues to help others after your death. It also means your decision will be honored. It’s important to talk with your family and loved ones so they can be prepared to support your choice at the time of your death.

Registering as a donor in the national donor registry authorizes organ, eye and tissue donation for transplant. You may also authorize donation for research and education and / or list any existing registration with a specific research program on the Access Your Registration page on the registry website. You can list specific research program information under Donation Specifications.

What can be donated:

• Organs: Heart, kidneys, liver, lungs, pancreas, intestines
• Tissues: Eyes / corneas, heart valves, bone and associated tissue, skin, veins and arteries, nerves

When it comes to waiting for an organ transplant, we are all created equal. Wealthy or famous individuals cannot and do not get bumped up higher on the national transplant waiting list. The waiting list is actually a pool of people that takes into account many factors, such as:

• Blood type
• Body size
• Severity of patient’s medical condition
• Distance between the donor’s hospital and the patient’s hospital
• The patient’s waiting time
• Whether the patient is healthy enough for surgery

Yes. If you are taken to the hospital after an accident or injury, it is the hospital’s number one priority to save YOUR life. Your status as a donor is not even considered until every effort has been made to try to save your life. To even be considered for donation, a patient must be on a ventilator and either declared brain dead or suffer cardiac death.