Secretary of State Jesse White’s legislation took effect on Monday, January 1, 2018. It allows 16- and 17-year-olds to register for the State’s First Person Consent Organ/Tissue Donor Registry when they receive their Driver’s License or identification card. Those who join the registry will receive a letter of thanks from the Secretary of State’s office. Secretary White encourages 16- and 17-year-olds to use this letter as a basis for discussing their choice with their parents.
“Our main priority is to save lives,” said White. “Approximately 4700 people are on the waiting list in Illinois, and about 300 hundred people die each year waiting for an organ transplant. [They] are someone’s mother, father, daughter, or son. This new law is an important step in reducing the number of individuals on the waiting list. “One person can improve the quality of life for up to 25 people. Currently, 6.3 million Illinoisans are registered with the State’s registry.”
By joining the First Person Consent Organ/Tissue Donor Registry, 16- and 17-year-olds will be giving consent to donate their organs and tissue at the time of their death, with only the single limitation that the procurement organizations (Gift of Hope Organ and Tissue Network and Mid-America Transplant) must make a reasonable effort to contact a parent or guardian, to ensure they approve of the donation. The parent or guardian will then have the opportunity to overturn the child’s decision. Once the 16- or 17-year-old turns 18, that decision would be considered legally binding without limitation.
Illinoisans can register with the Secretary of State’s Organ/Tissue Donor Registry at LifeGoesOn.com, by calling 800-210-2106, or by visiting their local Driver Services facility.