Donor Card Bill

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NORTH CAROLINA GOVERNOR TO SIGN DONOR BILL

Raleigh - Gov. F. Easley will sign Senate Bill 907, Organ, Eye, and

Tissue Donor Registry, sponsored by Sen. N. Lee (D) and Rep.

E. (D), into law on Thursday, December 8, 2001 at 11:00A.M. in the

Governor's Office at the State Capitol Building.

According to SB 907, signing a donor card will now permit donation and the

wishes stated on the donor card will be followed. Previously, the family's

permission had to be given for donation, even with the knowledge of a donor

card. SB 907 also requires the North Carolina Department of Health and Human

Services and other state agencies to study the establishment of a statewide

organ, eye, and tissue donor registry.

" The Governor's signature will send a clear message: North Carolina is

serious about saving lives, " said Senator Lee. " If all Americans were organ

and tissue donors, over 45,000 lives would have been saved last year through

organ donation, and countless more lives would have been enhanced through

tissue donation. There are a number of states throughout our nation that

have established donor registries. It's time to review and analyze their

efforts and develop the best plan for North Carolina. "

The purpose of the study required by SB 907 is to determine the feasibility

and potential benefits of maintaining a statewide registry of persons who

have indicated a willingness to donate organs and tissue for transplantation

or research.

" We're excited that Senator Lee, Governor Easley and other lawmakers

understand the importance of studying the possibility of a statewide donor

registry, " said Lloyd Jordan, Executive Director of Carolina Donor Services,

one of two federally designated organ procurement organizations in the

state. " This bill is a huge stride in the fight to save and improve lives

through organ and tissue donation. Carolina Donor Services looks forward to

working with the designated agencies on the study. "

According to the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), the non-profit

group that maintains the nation's organ transplant database, more than 2,800

of the 78,000 people in the United States waiting to receive an organ

transplant are listed in North Carolina.