Many states allow people under the age of 18 to register their intent to be a donor. However, a parent or legal guardian makes the final donation decision until a person turns the age of 18. In New York, a person may first register intent at age 16. In Vermont, a person may first register intent at age 15.
There is no age limit for organ or tissue donation. We have seen donation successfully occur at ages over 100 years old!
All major religions in the U.S. support donation as a final act of compassion and generosity.
No. Medical care is never affected because someone has registered as a donor. The medical team at your hospital will do absolutely everything they can to save your life.
There is absolutely no cost to a family or a donor's estate.
Donation will not cause disfigurement. Donor's may have any type of funeral arrangement (ex: open casket viewing) that they or a family desire.
When you register as a donor you are able to specify your wishes for donating organs, tissues, and eye. At that time you may restrict any organs or tissues that you do not wish to donate.
Yes. This is called "directed donation." While rare, it provides the opportunity for a donor or their family to "direct" the donation to individual(s), typically family or friends. Successful donation and transplant will require the individual(s) named to be listed for transplant and also be a match for the donor's organ(s).
The identity of a donor and their family is protected information. Name and contact information is not shared with recipients unless both the donor family and recipient(s) have approved the exchange of that information.
After registering as a donor, we recommend you inform your family of your registration and your desire to help others through the gift of life. This will ensure they understand your wishes should anything ever happen.
If you have already registered and wish to make a change, please contact your individual state's donor registry.
While CDT can access donor registries in other states, we encourage new residents of New York, Vermont or Massachusetts to re-enroll as a donor in their new state.