Why are organ and tissue donations needed?
Each year the number of people waiting for transplants increases dramatically. This year tens of thousands of people will need corneal, skin and bone grafts. This year over 60,000 are waiting for kidneys, hearts, livers, heart-lungs, lungs, pancreases and intestines. Those in need range from babies to teenagers, young adults to those looking ahead to their retirement. Transplantation is their only realistic hope for a healthy and productive life. • Can anyone sign an organ donor card? Everyone should consider himself or herself a potential organ donor, regardless of age or medical history. Individuals under the age of 18 may sign a donor card with the consent of their parent or guardian. Parents should keep their children’s donor cards with their own, perhaps in their wallet, close their driver’s license. • Do these donor cards have the same validity as my driver’s license? If an organ donor card or statement is included with your driver’s license, both are legal documents and show you
