Little did you know when you checked the organ donor box on your drivers license that your own family could trump your wishes – refusing the donation at their own discretion, or defaulting on it if they couldn’t agree on the donation among themselves. In those cases, your organs would not be made available for donation, despite your wishes. Until now.
Before the Southwest Transplant Alliance (STA) online donor registry went online in August, the STA had to present the option of donation to the potential donor’s family. Next of kin had the final say – and their wishes trumped those of the donor. But now, signing up through the STA registry is considered legally binding consent and allows the STA to move forward with organ donations.
More than 7,000 people in Texas are on a waiting list for organ transplants.
To officially register to be a donor in Texas, go to www.donatelifetexas.org or www.donevidatexas.org .
No comments:
Post a Comment