If you are one of the more than 7,900 Pennsylvanians waiting for an organ transplant, Facebook might have just increased your chances of survival.
On May 1, Facebook added an option for its members to update their status to “organ donor.”
In addition, it offers an instructive video along with steps and links to register to become a donor in each state.
In a recent New York Times article, Charlene R. Zettel, chief executive of Donate Life California, noted that when someone signs up with an official state registry, it is a legal declaration that allows their organs to be donated without family consultation.
In a situation where the deceased is not in a registry, organ procurement specialists often contact the family to ask for consent.
If people were to declare themselves organ donors on Facebook, Zettel said, it might simplify and hasten the decision for families to approve a donation, much like when they put the designation on their drivers license. Facebook can potentially make a big difference.
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