Currently people aren’t required to answer on driver license applications whether they want to be an organ and tissue donor. A year from now, applicants will have to formally check a box to indicate they want to be a donor or don’t want to answer.
The bill, which Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed Wednesday, is aimed at increasing the number of organ and tissue donors in the state. People who die from fatal brain injuries in car crashes may be candidates to donate organs.
From my colleague, Jon Campell, in Albany:
Lauren’s Law will require driver’s license applicants over the age of 18 to answer whether they would like to join the state’s donor list. Currently, the question is optional.The new law is named in honor of Lauren Shields, a 12-year-old Stony Point girl who survived a heart transplant in 2009. Lauren made multiple trips to the state Capitol in the past two years to try to persuade lawmakers to support the measure.State lawmakers passed the bill earlier this year after it had stalled in 2011, largely over disagreements on language.
A compromise was reached in June, and the law allows license applicants to answer “yes” or “skip this question.” A previous version of the bill had required either “yes,” “no” or “not at this time.”
Do you think it will encourage people to say “yes” to organ donation? Have you made your wishes known to your loved ones? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below.
(Lauren Shields on Oct. 4, 2012. Peter Carr/The Journal News/LoHud.com)
8 Comments
Stupid law. In my opinion, if it’s left blank, they obviously don’t want to be an organ donor. Albany has nothing better to do than this? I myself have checked the box as a donor.
I signed up as an organ donor when the “Donate Life” drive started last year in my office. I don’t mind this being mandatory. I know some feel for religious reasons, organ donation isn’t believed in, but, I think it’s the best gift one can give another person, like donating blood.
I would willingly accept signing up as a donor if I was applying for a license. If, when I’ve passed, any of my organs are healthy and useful to save a life, then I know that I have paid it forward in life, and did a final act to help others as I enter eternal life. And, since I can’t take my organs with me, they might as well be of use to someone here on earth.
I do not feel this should be mandatory.
I think that “Lauren’s Law” is a positive law in that it is now mandatory to check a box stating your wishes. I do think that it will increase the number of organ donors over time. Many people do not want to think or believe that they could be affected by this issue or that it pertains to them as they do not want to think about their possible accidental death. There are many people on waiting lists for life-saving vital organs and many die before receiving the needed organ. I believe most people are good and want to help others, and when made to think about it, many would donate to save another life. It is also important to share your wishes with a family member or someone close to you – so this question might provoke that important conversation to let your loved ones know your wishes.
Biggest problem remains will the doc give the person a fare choice to live or let you die because your worth more? That’s what I have heard over the years and I believe it. Hospitals and doctors are more corrupt than ever.
Thanks but no thanks.
Government program to harvest organs
What I meant to say was that it is a good program that will save lives and not just another government program
Thanks but no thanks. I do not think it should be made mandatory, especially after reading the most recent articles pertaining to the organ procurement organizations and their heavy handed methods approaching grieving traumatized families. The articles solidified what I have always thought….we are all worth more dead than alive.