Donate Life California Honors Legislators

Source: California Transplant Donor Network

Legislators who worked to help transplants patients continue to receive medication after surgery and to ease the ability of people to register to become organ and tissue donors were honored Tuesday by a statewide organization supporting transplantation and tissue donation.

DonateLIFE California selected Assembly Speaker John A. Perez of Los Angeles and Santa Clara State Senator Elaine Alquist for the honor. They were recognized at a ceremony at the state capitol. DonateLIFE California is a non-profit group which oversees the registry, allowing California residents to sign up to become organ and tissue donors. About 8 million people are signed up to provide the "gift of life."

Both laws were signed into law in 2010.

"We are honored by the work of Senator Perez and Senator Alquist in helping DonateLIFE California to save lives through the Donate Life Organ and Tissue Registry," said Lisa Stocks, president of DonateLIFE California. "With more than 21,000 Californians waiting for the gift of life, we must ensure that every single donor's wishes are honored, and that every organ transplant recipient is given the opportunity to survive and thrive with a new lease on life.

Four Organ Procurement Organizations in California are responsible for promoting organ and tissue donations and partner with transplant centers statewide. The four agencies make up the board of DonateLIFE California.

One change in the law will add to the ability of people to make decisions about donation, said Cathy Olmo, a DonateLIFE board member. Starting in July, when someone signs up for a driver's license or renewal, they will be given the option of signing up for the registry or to choose, "Not at this time." Presently, residents do not have to answer the question and are only given the opportunity to say "yes." Olmo is also the Community Development Manager for the California Transplant Donor Network, which helps match donors with recipients for organs and tissues in Northern California and Northern Nevada.

DMV Clerks will now be required to ask the question and supply an answer to process the license request. It is expected give more people the option of signing up or at least to get more information on the registry.

"It provides the opportunity for information on organ and tissue donation to be considered by everyone getting a driver's license," said Olmo.

The other new law will allow continued payments for anti-rejection medications to be made by the MediCal programs for up to two years after someone receives a transplant. "As a son of a tissue donor," said Perez, "I'm especially proud that transplant recipients will have their needs met."


Make life happen ….

California residents can check "YES! I want to be an organ and tissue donor" when they apply for or renew their driver's license or ID card through the California DMV. Or they can sign up online to be an organ and tissue donor with the Donate Life California Registry at www.donateLIFEcalifornia.org or its companion Spanish Web site, www.doneVIDAcalifornia.org. 

Information about the impact of providing the "gift of life" to others through donor or tissue donation is at those web sites as well as at www.ctdn.org.