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New law would let 16 and 17 year-olds sign up to be organ donors

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Illinois

* Press release…

Gov. Bruce Rauner today signed House Bill 1805, also known as the Drive for Life Act. The bill, which received bipartisan support, allows 16- and 17-year-olds to express their wishes to become organ and tissue donors. Signing the bill into law will give hundreds of thousands of additional Illinoisans the opportunity to join the registry each year.

“So many people are waiting for life-saving organ transplants,” Gov. Rauner said. “In Illinois alone, more than 4,700 people are on the waiting list, and every year, around 300 people die waiting for a transplant. It’s tragic. We need to give everyone who wants to become an organ donor the opportunity to do so, and that’s exactly what this bill does.”

The Drive for Life Act will allow Illinois residents 16 years old and older to join the First Person Consent Organ and Tissue donor registry when they receive their driver’s licenses or state ID cards. While the law gives 16- and 17-year-olds the right to express their wishes to become an organ donor, parents and guardians still will have the right to give or revoke consent until the donor turns 18.

Secretary of State Jesse White and state legislators have been working with organ procurement organizations Mid-America Transplant Services and Gift of Hope Organ and Tissue Network to get the Drive for Life Act written into law.

“My goal for the Illinois Secretary of State’s Organ and Tissue Donor program is to save lives by ensuring that organs and tissue are available for those in need,” Secretary of State White said. “This new law is a major step toward reaching that goal. I was proud to work with the advocacy groups, legislators and the governor to help make this law a reality.”

Illinois joins 47 other states that currently allow 16- and 17-year-olds to register as organ donors.

Not sure why we’re one of the last states to do this, but at least it’s done now.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Aug 8, 17 @ 11:21 am

Comments

can donate organs and enlist in army….. cant drink because not responsible???? hmmmmm

Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Aug 8, 17 @ 11:24 am
Ghost, I had that argument with relatives about 45 years ago. And I don’t even drink.

Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Aug 8, 17 @ 11:36 am
This is a wonderful idea and I’m glad that this has gone through!

Ghost,
I remember when the drinking age was lowered to eighteen (which was my peer group) and I remember how drunk driving increased and casualties along with it. I remember the irresponsible and immature behavior that we engaged in and could have harmed a lot more people for it. A legal drinking age of twenty-one saves lives.

Comment by Aldyth Tuesday, Aug 8, 17 @ 11:38 am
I assume you won 😀

Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Aug 8, 17 @ 11:42 am
One of the longest hours of my life. My son
signed up with the Secretary of State and at
the time the intake had about a hundred and twenty
questions. Who knows their offspring’s drug or
sexual history? Maybe it’s different now, but
giving the Donor Program access to medical history
could shorten a very painful process.

Comment by Illinoisvoter Tuesday, Aug 8, 17 @ 11:52 am
If you’re old enough to donate an organ you should be old enough to vote. Just sayin.

Comment by Boone's is Back Tuesday, Aug 8, 17 @ 12:13 pm
As the father of a 16-year-old, I am cool with this. Seems like a good idea to me and kind of pleasantly surprised how many states already do this.

Comment by Oneman Tuesday, Aug 8, 17 @ 1:40 pm
=== can donate organs and enlist in army….. cant drink because not responsible???? ===

=== If you’re old enough to donate an organ you should be old enough to vote. Just sayin. ===

Technically, this law does not grant 16 and 17 year olds the right to donate their organs. It gives them the right to express that desire on their driver’s license. Their parents, G-d forbid they are ever in that situation, still retain the power to make that decision.

And really, I believe, the decision as to whether or not to donate organs is always up to the next of kin. Doctors aren’t gonna go remove organs for transplant without the permission of the next of kin, even if the deceased is listed as an organ donor on their driver’s license.

Comment by Just Observing Tuesday, Aug 8, 17 @ 1:52 pm
Aldyth but if an 18 is that irresponsible should we let them sign up to be soldiers or give away organs? basically if we let them make adult decisions should they be allowed to make all adult decisions?

Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Aug 8, 17 @ 2:02 pm
Lower the drinking age and combine with this organ donor rule, the shortage will solve itself.

Comment by Wumpus Tuesday, Aug 8, 17 @ 2:59 pm
It will surely give a great opportunity to youth coming forward for this noble cause

Comment by It Tuesday, Aug 8, 17 @ 8:20 pm
Being liver receipent since last 6 years, I know value of organ donation in true sense. Lowering registering age to 16 will definitely improve intention to donate organs in future hence increase in registration for organ donation. A very good step though Illinois being the last to join

Comment by PK Rattan India Tuesday, Aug 8, 17 @ 8:29 pm