Louisiana top organ donor state in nation

Donate Life Louisiana announced Louisiana now ranks first in the nation for donor designations.

The donor designation rate is the number of Louisiana citizens registering as organ donors at the Offices of Motor Vehicles.

Statistics reported by Donate Life America show that more than 64 percent of those obtaining drivers’ licenses and state IDs in Louisiana say yes when asked if they would like to register as an organ and tissue donor.

The average national rate is 38 percent.

Louisiana’s Organ and Tissue Donor Registry is more than 1.9 million names strong.  One person is added to the national transplant waiting list every 12 minutes, and an average of 18 people die each day while waiting for a life saving organ transplant.

The national waiting list stands at almost 108,000 – including nearly 2,000 men, women and children in Louisiana.

Kelly Ranum, Executive Director of the Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency and DLL member said, “We are pleased with our progress but our mission is not complete until no lives are lost due to the lack of organs available for transplantation.”

“The Office of Motor Vehicles is committed to working with Donate Life Louisiana to increase the number of registered organ and tissue donors by asking each of our customers about their wishes regarding donation. We have a professional commitment but also a personal one – many of our staff have been personally affected by donation

and transplantation,” said Kay Hodges, deputy commissioner Office of Motor Vehicles.

According to Jeanette Slakey, DLL member and Executive Director of Legacy Donor Foundation, “This milestone shows the generosity of the people in Louisiana in recognizing the critical need for organ donation."

Registering as an organ and tissue donor is easy –simply add the donor heart designation to your driver's license, learner's permit or state identification card.

Let family members know about your decision to register as an organ, tissue and eye donor, and sign up at your local Office of Motor Vehicles or by visiting www.donatelifeLA.org.