How to Become a Georgia Organ Donor
We all have a choice over what happens to our remains once we pass. Many people choose to enroll as organ donors, and agree to allow the medical community to give their viable organs to other people who are in desperate need of a transplant. The list of people waiting to receive organ transplants grows longer every year, and there are comparatively few people who are able or willing to give them what they need. Donors are identified by a special symbol located on their driver’s license, which is extremely useful – the period of time for which organs can be harvested after death is very short, and doctors need to know their donor status as quickly as possible.
How to Register as an Organ Donor in Georgia
The easiest way to register as an organ donor is when you first apply for your Georgia drivers license. The appropriate symbol will be placed on your license when it is ready. You can also opt in any time you renew your driver’s license with the DDS. You don’t have to work through the DDS, however. You can also easily register on the Donate Life Georgia website, where records will be updated to reflect your new status. It is important that you tell your family when you decide to become an organ donor, just in case there is any legal dispute after your death. It also makes it easier when everyone around you is in agreement.
Why Should I Register as an Organ Donor?
Right now, over 2,800 people in Georgia are waiting to receive life-saving transplants, and that number is constantly growing. Most of them will not receive the organs and tissues they need to survive before succumbing to their illness. Nationwide, the waitlist is over 100,000. We are still many years away from being able to help these people with artificial means – live human organs are their only hope for survival or wellness. Donating your organs after death doesn’t cost you anything, and it is one of the most humanitarian things you could do. Unless you have personal reasons for forgoing it, consider registering as an organ donor.
Which Organs are Used in Donation?
A surprisingly high number of the body’s systems can be used in transplantation. Major internal organs like the heart, liver, eyes, kidneys, lungs, and pancreas can all be replaced in a sick person if there is enough compatibility in their bodies. Other sections of organs can be harvested and transplanted as needed, such as pieces of cartilage, various tendons throughout the body, heart valves, bones, and grafts of skin can be used. It is important to note that organ donation will not noticeably disfigure the body, so an open casket funeral is still an option for organ donors who wish to preserve their appearance after they are gone.
