Iowa Organ Donation
You may have seen Organ Donation Commercials on the television lately. As of July 1, 2002, state legislation began a first-person consent.
What is first-person consent? The intention of the "First Person Consent" law is to allow an individual to legally record his/her organ donation decision and verify that this decision will be honored at the time of death. With the donation decision recorded in a legal document (driver's license, donor card, donor registry, or other legal document such as a Will), legal next-of-kin consent will not be required for donation to take place.
"I carry a donor card and/or have ' yes' on my driver's license. Do I still need to register with the new law that was passed?"
Although the new law honors your wishes marked on the driver's license or donor card, the registry is also an important tool for you to use.
The registry allows for an informed consent, giving you information on the organs and tissues that can be donated in Iowa upon your death. It allows you to choose which organs and tissues you would like to donate.
Up to 80-100 people may benefit from one person's decision to be an organ, tissue, and eye donor.
For more specifics on giving consent to be an organ donor go to Iowa Donor Network.
Elgin Lester, Lifeguard Air Ambulance Helicopter Pilot
