Show you care for others as a registered donor!
Did you know? Registering to be an organ donor is an easy way to make the world a better place. Show you care by checking the box on your driver’s license, or register online today.
Did y’all know? 10,000 Texans need a 1-up!
In Texas, there are 10,000 people waiting for a life-saving transplant, yet 44% of people haven’t registered as a donor.
We need to step up our game and give our fellow Texans a boost! Did you know that one tissue, eye and organ donor can save and heal up to 75 lives!? Now that’s Texas giving!
Registering as a donor is the key to saving lives.
Ready to get your Texas driver’s license or ID card? When you go to the DPS, you’ll have a chance to register as an organ donor.
Or, you can save time and register online today! It only takes a few minutes.
Make your decision based on facts.
It’s important to have accurate information when discussing registration and tissue, eye and organ donation. Below are answers to some of our frequently asked questions.
How does the donation process work?
Your decision to register as a donor and give your organs, eyes and tissues to others in need is at the very start of the donation process. This decision is either made by you during your lifetime or, if you haven’t made a decision, your family will be asked to decide for you.
When a person’s life ends, they are declared legally and medically dead. For organ donation to occur, the potential donor must be in a hospital and on a ventilator, which is a machine that keeps the potential donor’s organs working after death. This ensures the organs are usable while authorization for donation is obtained, medical tests and examinations are performed to confirm what’s healthy enough to be transplanted, the organs are matched with waiting recipients, and recovery can take place. Organ recovery happens in an operating room at the donor’s hospital and then organs are transported to the recipient’s transplant center where the recipients are already waiting and prepped for their lifesaving surgery.
Depending on the circumstances, people who die outside of a hospital setting may still be candidates for cornea and tissue donation, which are equally important. In these cases, donation logistics are coordinated by the funeral home or medical examiner’s office and the appropriate tissue and eye banks.
Soon after donation, the donor’s family is provided with information about their loved one’s donation, and they may receive care and support from the donation agency in the months and years that follow if they choose. Donor families often say that their loved one’s donation brings them comfort during a very difficult time.
Looking for more information about the process? Find more information here.
What does it mean to register as a donor?
Registering to be a donor means you are providing authorization for tissue, eye and organ donation after your death. If you are under the age of 18, your parents will be asked to confirm your decision if you have the opportunity to donate.
If you choose to register, you’ll be in good company. More than 13 million Texans have trusted Donate Life Texas with their donation decision. Looking for more information on Donate Life Texas? Find more information here.
Registering to be a donor does not include living organ donation, living bone marrow, blood or whole body donation. Find resources for those options here.
Does my religion support donation?
All major religions support donation as a charitable and compassionate act that saves and enhances lives, or as a personal choice. This includes all denominations of Christianity, including Catholicism. In fact, the pope has stated support for organ donation as the ultimate act of compassion.
You can find more information about religious views on donation here. Of course, you can always talk with your spiritual leader or faith community if you’re still looking for guidance.
Will doctor’s still try to save my life if I’m a registered donor?
Absolutely. Saving a person’s life is always the top priority for doctors, nurses, paramedics and emergency personnel, period. When you need medical care, every effort is made to save your life. It’s only after lifesaving efforts have been exhausted that donation becomes an option and your donor status is checked.
Additionally, access to the Donate Life Texas registry is strictly limited to the employees of tissue, eye and organ recovery organizations for the purpose of evaluating donation decisions. The professionals from the donation agency are completely separate from the medical professionals providing care in the hospital, and only become involved when death is imminent or declared.
Can I have an open casket funeral or viewing if I’m a donor?
Funeral arrangements of your choice are possible, including an open casket funeral or viewing. The donor’s body is respected and carefully prepared so that donation itself does not interfere with funeral plans.
Is my health a factor in my decision to register?
People of all ages and backgrounds can be donors, including those with common health conditions. At the time of donation, medical suitability is determined to ensure the safety of donated organs. So don’t rule yourself out – if you support donation, register today [link to register page] and tell your loved ones.
Explore our Frequently Asked Questions and learn more about donation.
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“My mom is alive today because someone else decided to be so selfless.”
Micah, whose mom received a heart
Speak up! Sharing your decision helps others respect your choice.
It’s important for your family to know about your choice to register as an organ donor since your parents will be asked to confirm your decision if you have the opportunity to donate before you turn 18. Once you’re 18, the choice to be a donor is yours alone.
