Make A Difference — Say “YES”
When you obtain your Alabama driver’s license, you will be asked, “Do you wish to be an organ donor?” If you say “Yes”, what does that mean?
- “Yes” means that you want to give someone a very special gift — a second chance at life. “Yes” means you have decided to give organs and tissues after your death to people who urgently need a transplant. The title Organ Donor will appear on your driver’s license.
- The urgent need for organ transplants grows daily with over 50,000 people nationally and over 1,000 people in Alabama anxiously waiting. You can save lives through donation. Your choice to become an organ donor can make a life-saving difference for these critically ill people.
- You are not under pressure to say, “YES.” This is your personal decision which should be discussed with your family. If you have questions, call the Alabama Organ Center at 1-800-252-3677, or visit their website.
- If you decide to be an organ donor after you have been issued your driver’s license, you can obtain an “Organ Donor” sticker to place on your temporary or permanent license to indicate your decision. Stickers can be obtained from your local probate office.
For those of you that have made the decision to become an Organ Donor prior to renewing your license, the “Organ Donor” designation will be permanently printed on your license in the bottom right corner (click on picture at right).
Common Questions About Donation
- Will becoming a donor affect my medical care if I am in an accident? The doctors and nurses treating you will always try to save your life. There is no conflict of interest. These doctors are not part of the transplant team.
- Will my body be disfigured by donation? Organs and tissues are removed in an operation at the hospital. Your body is treated with respect and an open casket funeral is possible after donation.
- Is my family charged if I am a donor? Families who donate do not pay for the donation. Families pay only for the costs involved in trying to save the life of the injured person. Donation is a gift — not a charge to the family.
- Can I wait and talk to my family about organ donation before I decide? Yes, information from the Alabama Organ Center (AOC) about donation and transplantation is available by calling 1-800-252-3677. Share the facts with your family, talk with your clergy and discuss how they feel about helping others through organ and tissue donation.
Information provided by and courtesy of the Alabama Organ Center and the Alabama Department of Public Safety.
For more information about the need for organ donors please visit the various websites under the “Web Links” page on the left sidebar of this website.
