New York State Donate Life NY Registry
Click here to enroll in the Donate Life NY Registry.
New York State offers a statewide computer registry of persons who wish to donate their organs upon their death. Called Donate Life NY, the new registry documents a person’s legal consent to donate organs upon death. It is a confidential registry that can only be accessed by health care and donation professionals.
New York State law honors an individual’s right to make decisions about him/herself in regards to organ and tissue donation. Enrollment in the New York State Donate Life Registry is a legal documentation of one’s wish to donate. Although patients’ families or next of kin cannot overturn a person’s legally documented consent to donate, they may still involved in the donation process, so please share your wishes regarding donation with your next of kin.
Q: How do I enroll in the Donate Life NY Registry?
A: Scroll down or CLICK HERE. In addition, you will be enrolled automatically if you check the donor box on your driver license or non-driver identification (ID) card application renewal form. When you indicate your consent to donating organs and/or tissues by checking the donor box, DMV will forward your information to the State Department of Health so they can include you in the Registry. You can also obtain cards by calling the Center for Donation & Transplant at 1-800-256-7811.
Q: What happens when I say "yes" to enrollment?
A: Enrollment in the Donate Life NY Registry declares your legal consent to donate your organs and/or tissues after your death. In the event of your death, the local organ procurement organization or tissue bank will inform your family of your decision. Although your family cannot override your decision to donate, they may still need to be involved in the donation process, so it is important that you tell them about your wishes to become a donor.
Q: What if I’ve already signed a donor card or the back of my license?
A: You are not likely to show up in a hospital emergency room ready to hand over your purse or wallet. Although signing a donor card or the back of your license are methods of declaring your wish to donate, the registry can always be accessed, whereas your donor card or license may not be available.
Q: The registry card asks for my 9-digit motor vehicle or non-driver ID number. What if I don’t have a license or don’t have it on me?
A: The driver’s license number is not a required field to complete, so it is not necessary to fill out that section if you don’t have that information. Be sure to include all other information.
Q: Can I specify which organs and tissue I want to donate on the registry?
A: Yes, you are able to indicate which organs and/or tissues you wish to donate, as well as your decision to donate organs/tissues for transplantation, research purposes or both.
Click here to enroll in the Donate Life NY Registry.
