LANSING, Mich. — The Michigan Senate on Wednesday approved Sen. Kevin Daley’s legislation to promote organ donation by allowing doctors to provide patients with information about registering to become organ donors.
“Organ, tissue and eye donation can provide families who are tragically confronted by the death of a loved one with the comfort of knowing the gift of donated organs and tissues provides another person with renewed hope for a healthy life,” said Daley, R-Lum. “My son Thomas passed away over 15 years ago. Thanks to organ donation, his heart, liver and kidneys, and his legacy, have lived on in the lives of others.”
Senate Bill 205 would allow physicians to inquire about patients’ interest in becoming a bone marrow donor or organ and tissue donor and subsequently provide information about how to register.
“We previously passed legislation to give folks an opportunity to register as a donor when acquiring or renewing a driver’s license or state ID card at a Secretary of State branch office,” Daley said. “However, with more people renewing these items online, there are fewer face-to-face discussions about the organ donor registry. This bill would offer another avenue for residents to have a conversation about becoming a life-saving organ donor.”
Gift of Life Michigan reports that 131 lives are saved each day by organ transplants throughout the United States. More than 9,000 patients in Michigan have received a life-saving organ transplant in the past 10 years.
Visit Michigan.gov/SOS/All-Services/Organ-Donor-Registry to learn more or register as an organ donor.
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