Wisconsin Online organ donation registration starts April 1, 2010

Congratulations to the state of Wisconsin for joining the 45 other states in implementing on-line organ and tissue donor registration. In this age of hi-tech where almost everyone has access to the internet it makes becoming an organ donor very easy to do. These new initiatives will lead to saving more lives as people get off the waiting lists for their transplant and a second chance at life.

By: Jules Miller, Wisconsin Public Radio, Superior Telegram

Beginning April 1, people in Wisconsin can register online to be organ donors.

Martha Mallon is president of the non-profit group Donate Life Wisconsin. She says the online registry will speed up the process of connecting patients with available organs. Mallon says the main goal is to save more lives, and “enhance the lives of people through eye and tissue donation.” She says there’s more than 106,000 people nationally waiting for organ transplants, and 18 people die every day before a suitable donor is found.

The online option will not replace the organ donor registry people sign up with when getting their Wisconsin driver’s license. Mallon says more than half of the state’s licensed drivers are on that registry. She expects that number to jump once the online option begins next month.

Forty-five other states currently have online donor registries.

“You Have the Power to Save Lives – Register to be an organ and tissue donor & Tell Your Loved Ones of Your Decision”

Register to be a donor in Ontario or Download Donor Cards from Trillium Gift of Life Network. NEW for Ontario: recycleMe.org - Learn The Ins & Outs Of Organ And Tissue Donation. Register Today! For other Canadian provinces click here

In the United States, be sure to find out how to register in your state at ShareYourLife.org or Download Donor Cards from OrganDonor.Gov

In Great Britain, register at NHS Organ Donor Register

In Australia, register at Australian Organ Donor Register

Your generosity can save up to eight lives with heart, kidneys, liver, lungs, pancreas and small intestine transplants. One tissue donor can help up to 100 other people by donating skin, corneas, bone, tendon, ligaments and heart valves

Has your life been saved by an organ transplant? "Pay it forward" and help spread the word about the need for organ donation - In the U.S. another person is added to the national transplant waiting list every 11 minutes and 18 people die each day waiting for an organ or tissue transplant.