More than 10,000 New Yorkers are on waiting lists as the need for organ donations far exceeds the supply. One person who donates organs (hearts, lungs, liver, kidneys, pancreas and intestines) can save up to eight lives, while a tissue donor (corneas, bone, skin, heart valves, tendons, veins, etc.) can improve 12 or more lives by restoring eyesight, helping fight infections in burn patients and preventing the loss of mobility and disability.
By enrolling in the Donate Life Registry, you are giving legal consent for the recovery of your organs, tissues and eyes for the purposes of transplantation and research at the time of your death.
There are a variety of ways to enroll in the New York State Donate Life Registry:
- Enroll on-line through the NYS Departments of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and Health (DOH)
If you have a driver license or non-driver identification card, you can create a MyDMV account at the DMV web site which will allow you to enroll electronically in the Donate Life Registry. Please note that enrolling through this method will NOT result in a new driver license or non-driver identification card with a red heart symbol and the words ORGAN DONOR.
- Go to the myDMV page
Complete the online enrollment form on the DOH web site. Once you've filled out the form online, print, sign and mail it to the address indicated.
- Enroll in the NYS Donate Life Registry
- Go to the myDMV page
- Enroll by Mailing a printable paper form
Download the printable Donate Life Registration Enrollment Form and mail it to the NYS Department of Health for enrollment.
- Enroll at DMV
Sign the organ donor consent certification on the forms used to apply or renew a driver license or non-driver identification card. When you enroll through this method, a symbol of a red heart and the words "Organ Donor" will be printed on the front of your driver license or non-driver identification card at no extra cost.
- Enroll at the Board of Elections
When registering at the Board of Elections, complete and sign page 3 "Register to donate your organs and tissues" of the voter registration form. That page of the form will be forwarded to the NYS Department of Health for enrollment in the Donate Life Registry.
For more information, call an organ procurement organization or the New York State Organ and Tissue Donor Registry at 1-866-NYDONOR (1-866-693-6667).
- Frequently Asked Questions
